Last updated
IBAN Quick Reference
- Format: Country code (2 letters) + Check digits (2 digits) + BBAN (country-specific)
- Validation: Modulo 97 algorithm — result must equal 1
- Display format: Groups of 4 characters separated by spaces
- Machine format: No spaces — continuous string
- BIC/SWIFT: Often required alongside IBAN for international transfers
- SEPA: All EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, UK
- Generated IBANs: Pass format and checksum validation but are not real accounts
Examples
Example 1: Generated IBANs by Country
Germany (DE — 22 characters):
DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00
DE44 5001 0517 5407 3249 31
United Kingdom (GB — 22 characters):
GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19
GB82 WEST 1234 5698 7654 32
France (FR — 27 characters):
FR76 3000 6000 0112 3456 7890 189
FR14 2004 1010 0505 0013 M026 06
Netherlands (NL — 18 characters):
NL91 ABNA 0417 1643 00
NL39 RABO 0300 0652 64
Spain (ES — 24 characters):
ES91 2100 0418 4502 0005 1332
ES80 2310 0001 1800 0001 2345
Italy (IT — 27 characters):
IT60 X054 2811 1010 0000 0123 456
IT40 S054 2811 1010 0000 0654 321
Example 2: IBAN Structure Breakdown
German IBAN: DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00
Components:
Country Code: DE (Germany)
Check Digits: 89
Bank Code: 37040044 (Commerzbank Frankfurt)
Account Number: 0532013000
Validation (Modulo 97 algorithm):
1. Move first 4 chars to end: 37040044053201300089DE
2. Replace letters: 37040044053201300089131400
(D=13, E=14)
3. Compute modulo 97: 37040044053201300089131400 mod 97 = 1
4. Result must equal 1 ✓ — IBAN is valid
Example 3: IBAN Format by Country Reference
Country Code Length Format
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Germany DE 22 DEkk bbbb bbbb cccc cccc cc
UK GB 22 GBkk bbbb ssss sscc cccc cc
France FR 27 FRkk bbbb bggg ggcc cccc cccc cxx
Netherlands NL 18 NLkk bbbb cccc cccc cc
Spain ES 24 ESkk bbbb gggg xxcc cccc cccc
Italy IT 27 ITkk xbbb bbss sssc cccc cccc ccc
Switzerland CH 21 CHkk bbbb bccc cccc cccc c
Austria AT 20 ATkk bbbb bccc cccc cccc
Belgium BE 16 BEkk bbbc cccc ccxx
Poland PL 28 PLkk bbbs sssx cccc cccc cccc cccc
k=check digits, b=bank code, s=sort/branch code,
c=account number, x=check digit within BBAN