Support Guide
Understand what an IBAN is, what each part means, and when people need one for real payments.
You do not need to leave this guide to run a structural check. Use the same validator here, then continue reading if you need more context.
An IBAN identifies a bank account, not a payment card and not a bank branch on its own. Banks use it so incoming transfers can be routed to the correct destination account.
It is most common in Europe and other countries that adopted the ISO 13616 standard. In practice, it appears in invoices, payroll details, supplier onboarding, and bank transfer forms.
A typical IBAN starts with a two-letter country code and two check digits. The remaining part is the BBAN, a country-specific block that contains bank and account details in the format used by that country.
The exact structure changes by market. Germany, France, Spain, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom all use different internal layouts even though they share the same overall IBAN standard.
People usually need an IBAN when receiving salary payments, setting up direct debits, sending supplier payments, or sharing bank details for refunds and reimbursements.
If a transfer is being sent across borders, the sender may also need a SWIFT or BIC code depending on the payment route and destination bank.
No. The local account number is usually only one part of the full IBAN structure.
No. Many countries use IBAN, but not all banking systems adopted it.
This tool checks format only. It validates structure and checksum, but does not confirm that a bank account exists, is active, belongs to a person, or can receive payments. It does not perform financial, identity, or bank verification.
How IBAN Validation Works
A practical breakdown of country checks, fixed lengths, and the MOD-97 checksum used in IBAN validation.
IBAN Format by Country
Compare IBAN lengths, example structures, and country-specific differences across major IBAN markets.
IBAN vs SWIFT/BIC
See the difference between IBAN and SWIFT/BIC, what each identifier is for, and when transfers need both.
Use the main validator when you need a fast structural check. Use support guides when you need deeper context, implementation detail, or troubleshooting help.
Open IBANHow IBAN Validation Works
A practical breakdown of country checks, fixed lengths, and the MOD-97 checksum used in IBAN validation.
IBAN Format by Country
Compare IBAN lengths, example structures, and country-specific differences across major IBAN markets.
IBAN vs SWIFT/BIC
See the difference between IBAN and SWIFT/BIC, what each identifier is for, and when transfers need both.
IBAN vs Card Number
Understand why IBAN and card numbers belong to different payment systems and should never be used interchangeably.
Common IBAN Errors
See the most frequent reasons an IBAN fails validation and how to prevent bad banking data from entering your workflow.