IBAN Checker

About the IBAN checker

An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is the account number you give for a bank transfer in Europe and in many other countries. It is long — 15 to 33 characters — so it is easy to type one digit wrong.

This IBAN checker looks at an IBAN the way the standard (ISO 13616) describes it. It checks the country code, the length for that country, which places must be digits or letters, and the two check digits. When the IBAN is valid, it shows it in groups of four, with the bank code. When it is not valid, it tells you what is wrong — and often which character.

What it cannot do: it cannot tell if the account exists, if it is open, or who owns it. Only the bank knows that. A valid result means only this: *the format and the check digits are right.*

The IBAN is checked in your browser. It is never sent anywhere.

Features

• 89 countries — the length and the letter/digit pattern of every country in the IBAN registry
• Check digits — the ISO 7064 mod 97 test that catches almost every typing mistake
• Finds the likely mistake — a wrong character, two swapped characters or one character too many
• Groups of four — copy the IBAN with spaces, or without them for an online form
• Bank code and branch code — shown where the country's format says where they are
• National check digits — also checked for Belgium, France, Monaco, Spain, Italy, San Marino, Portugal, Finland and Norway
• Spaces, dashes and small letters — all fine; “IBAN” in front is ignored too
• Private — nothing is sent anywhere

What the checker looks at

1. The country code — the first two letters, like DE or FR. It must be a country that uses IBAN.
2. The length — every country has one fixed length. A German IBAN always has 22 characters, a Dutch one 18.
3. The pattern — each country says where digits and where letters go. In a Dutch IBAN, places 5 to 8 are letters (the bank, like ABNA); in a German IBAN everything after the country code is a digit.
4. The check digits — places 3 and 4. They are worked out from all the other characters (see below), so a typing mistake almost always makes them wrong.
5. The national check digit — some countries put one more check inside the account number. If the IBAN check digits are right but this one is wrong, the IBAN was probably made from a wrong account number.

How the check digits work

The check digits use the method ISO 7064 mod 97-10. Here it is with the IBAN DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00:

1. Move the first four characters to the end: 370400440532013000DE89
2. Change each letter to a number: A = 10, B = 11 … Z = 35. Here D = 13 and E = 14: 370400440532013000131489
3. Divide this big number by 97. The rest must be 1. Here it is 1, so the IBAN is valid.

To make the check digits, a bank does the same with 00 in their place, takes the rest, and subtracts it from 98. That is why check digits are always between 02 and 98.

This test catches every single wrong character and every swap of two characters next to each other. The tool uses this: when the test fails, it tries every single change and every swap, and names the places where one change would make the IBAN valid. If there are many such places, it says so and does not guess.

IBAN length by country

The 89 countries of the IBAN registry and the length of their IBANs. The shortest is Norway (15), the longest Russia (33).

Frequently asked questions

Does a valid IBAN mean the account exists?

No. The checker only knows the rules of the format and the check digits. An IBAN can be valid and still belong to a closed account, or to someone else. Only the bank can say if an account exists. Check the name of the receiver with your bank before you send money.

Why is my IBAN not valid?

Usually one character is typed wrong, two characters are swapped, or one is missing. The tool shows which rule fails. When it can, it names the character that is probably wrong. Compare the IBAN with your bank card, a bank letter or your banking app.

Can I type the IBAN with spaces or small letters?

Yes. Spaces, dashes and dots are removed, and small letters are made capital. You can also paste “IBAN DE89 …” — the word IBAN is ignored.

How long is an IBAN?

It depends on the country: from 15 characters (Norway) to 33 (Russia). Germany has 22, France and Italy 27, Spain 24, the Netherlands 18, the UK 22. See the table above.

Does the tool show the bank name or the BIC?

No. It shows the bank code and the branch code (the sort code in the UK and Ireland) as they stand in the IBAN. It does not have a list of banks, so it does not show the bank's name or BIC.

What are national check digits?

Some countries had their own check digits in the account number before IBAN existed — for example the RIB key in France or the CIN letter in Italy. They are still inside the IBAN. The tool checks them for Belgium, France, Monaco, Spain, Italy, San Marino, Portugal, Finland and Norway.

Is my IBAN sent anywhere?

No. The check runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or saved.

Related tools

• VAT Calculator — add or remove VAT for any rate
• Loan Calculator — monthly payment and total interest
• Number to Words — write an amount in words for a cheque or an invoice
• Invoice Generator — put your IBAN on a clean invoice
• Password Generator — strong passwords for your bank login

How to use it

• Type or paste the IBAN in the box. Spaces and small letters are fine
• Read the result. Green means the format and the check digits are right. Red means something is wrong — read the list below it
• Look at the marked characters. A red mark shows the character that is probably wrong. Check it against your bank paper
• Check the bank code in the details, if you know which bank it should be
• Copy the IBAN in groups of four, or without spaces for an online form