IBAN

An IBAN doesn’t replace your bank account number. It uses your sort code and account number, but also includes extra characters.

You should never try to guess an IBAN. Always contact the person you’re paying if you need to know their IBAN. You’ll find your own IBAN on your bank statement.

• Printed IBANs and electronic IBANs
• Making payments
• Receiving payments

Printed and electronic IBANs

When you see an IBAN on paper, it may be split into groups of four characters to make it easier to read.

A printed UK IBAN might look like this:

GB99 NWBK 1234 5612 3456 78

When you use an IBAN electronically – such as in an online banking service – it shouldn’t contain any blank spaces or the word 'IBAN'.

An electronic UK IBAN would look like this:

GB99NWBK12345612345678

• View examples of other IBANs

Making payments

You must always quote the IBAN and BIC of the beneficiary when you send payments to the EU, EEA and Switzerland.

Don’t give any additional information as this can cause problems with the payment.

You can also use an IBAN and BIC for currency payments within the UK. If you’re making a sterling payment in the UK, you should continue to use sort codes and account numbers.

Receiving payments

If you receive payments from the EU, EEA and Switzerland you should:

• Provide your IBAN and BIC to the payer
• Don’t provide any other information – such as account number, bank name or address

For payments being received from other countries worldwide, you can also provide your IBAN and BIC.

Use your sort code and account number for sterling payments within the UK.

An IBAN is always used in conjunction with a BIC (Bank Identifier Code).

The BIC is a standard way to identify a bank. It’s issued by SWIFT. It should be used on all international payments.

A BIC can be either 8 or 11 characters long. Here’s an example of our BIC:

• NWBKGB2L (8 digits)
• NWBKGB2LXXX (11 digits)

• Find out more about BIC codes on the SWIFT website

Always check that the IBAN is in the correct format for the receiving country before you send a payment.

You can use our IBAN checker to verify the format of an IBAN. This covers IBANs from countries in the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and other countries that use the IBANs.

• Use the IBAN checker

• When should my IBAN and BIC be used?
• Why do I need an IBAN and BIC?
• Do I need to use my IBAN?
• What should I do if the company I want to pay hasn’t given me their IBAN and BIC?
• Should I use my IBAN and BIC on UK invoices?

When should my IBAN and BIC be used?

You should print your IBAN and BIC on your invoices for clients in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

You should use them to instruct a foreign bank to make a payment to your account.

You can also use them for currency payments within the UK.

Why do I need an IBAN and BIC?

It is a simple standard way to identify account details and helps to speed up payments between international bank accounts.

Do I need to use my IBAN?

Yes, if you’re making or receiving international payments.

• Making payments – if you’re making a payment to the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you must use the beneficiary’s IBAN and BIC
• Receiving payments – if you’re receiving payments from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you must tell the payer your IBAN and BIC.

What should I do if the company I want to pay hasn’t given me their IBAN and BIC?

If the company hasn’t printed their IBAN and BIC on their invoice, you should ask for them. By law, the company must provide this information. They can find it on their bank statements or they can ask their bank.

You should advise the company that payment could be rejected, delayed or incur extra charges if they don’t provide this information.

You should be aware that the beneficiary's bank can reject your payment if you don’t use an IBAN and BIC.

Should I use my IBAN and BIC on UK invoices?

It’s not necessary to include IBAN and BIC information on UK invoices unless you’re expecting to receive a currency payment from another UK bank account.