About IBANs
IBAN is an acronym which stands for International Bank Account Number, a standardised system used to identify bank accounts across Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa. At present, 82 countries use IBANs; for some it is mandatory, while for others it is simply recommended.
An IBAN identifies a bank account using a country code (based on the ISO standard 13616); two check digits; then information containing the domestic bank account number, branch identifier, or routing number. Each country implements its own unique IBAN structure, examples of which can be found here. No matter the format or structure, an IBAN will be made up of a maximum of 34 alphanumeric characters.
Find out which countries use the IBAN systemHow to use an IBAN to make an international payment
Depending on the country you and your recipient are both based in, different forms of banking information will be required alongside an IBAN.
For example, if you are sending money between two European countries within the SEPA zone, the following information will be required:
The full name of your recipient
The recipient’s IBAN number
The recipient’s BIC/SWIFT code
Once you have gathered the necessary account information for your recipient, you will need to choose a provider with whom you trust to move your funds safely from one country to another.
To make things easier, we recommend users check out the MoneyTransfers comparison tool on our homepage. This free resource helps customers gauge which company can offer the best service for their cross-border payment needs. Users may also find our company comparison guides helpful, if they are struggling to choose between two leading providers.
Although in some cases the most convenient option may appear to be making an international transfer through your bank, we strongly encourage customers to weigh up their options first, as there are many specialist companies whose expertise in the industry will save you time and money.
Check and check again
In order to make sure your international payment is successful, we recommend using an IBAN checker to verify the validity of the information. An IBAN checker is a handy online tool that scours the internet for the correct information, double checking that the details are correct before you submit a payment.
What is an IBAN checker?Summary
Here at MoneyTransfers we strive to provide as much relevant, high-quality information about subjects relating to cross-border payments as possible. If you would like to learn more about IBANs, SWIFT codes, or any other banking information, check out our Guides page.
Additionally, country-specific information can be found via our Send Money page, with details about the sorts of banking information that will be collected during the international money transfer process, based on the destination of your remittance.
