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Finding Tools: bank-code-format-explainer
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Select a bank code type to see a visual segment breakdown, the meaning of each part, its length, and a real-world example — fully config-driven and always free.
Global bank account identifier · ISO 13616
The IBAN is an internationally agreed system for identifying bank accounts across national borders. It starts with a 2-letter country code and 2 check digits, followed by a country-specific Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN). Length varies from 15 to 34 characters.
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code for the country where the account is held. 'DE' = Germany, 'GB' = United Kingdom, 'FR' = France, 'NL' = Netherlands, etc.
Two numeric check digits computed via the MOD-97-10 algorithm (ISO 7064). They validate the full IBAN and catch transposition errors before a transfer is sent.
Basic Bank Account Number — the country-specific portion. For Germany: BLZ bank code (8 digits: 37040044) followed by account number (10 digits: 0532013000). Structure differs per country.
| Code | Standard | Length | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBAN | ISO 13616 | 15–34 characters (varies by country) | Validate an IBAN |
| SWIFT / BIC | ISO 9362 | 8 characters (primary office) or 11 characters (with branch code) | Lookup SWIFT Code |
| Routing Number | American Bankers Association (ABA) Routing Transit Number | 9 digits (always fixed) | Lookup Routing Number |
| Sort Code | UK Payments Administration (UKPA) / Pay.UK | 6 digits (displayed as XX-XX-XX) | Lookup SWIFT / BIC |
| BLZ | Deutsche Bundesbank (German Federal Bank) | 8 digits (always fixed) | Lookup BLZ Code |
An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardized account identifier used internationally. It consists of a 2-letter ISO country code, 2 MOD-97 check digits, and a country-specific BBAN. Total length ranges from 15 to 34 characters depending on the country.
A SWIFT/BIC code is either 8 or 11 characters. The 8-character form contains bank code (4) + country code (2) + location code (2). The 11-character form appends a 3-character branch code. 'XXX' indicates the primary/head office.
A US ABA routing number is always 9 digits: the first 4 are the Federal Reserve routing symbol (district + processing center), the next 4 are the ABA institution identifier, and the final digit is a check digit validated by a weighted sum modulo 10 algorithm.
A Sort Code is a 6-digit code (written XX-XX-XX) used in the UK and Ireland to identify a bank and its branch. The first 2 digits identify the bank; the remaining 4 identify the branch. It is required for Faster Payments, CHAPS, and BACS transfers.
BLZ (Bankleitzahl) is Germany's 8-digit bank routing code. The BLZ forms the first 8 digits of the BBAN portion of a German IBAN. So if you have a German IBAN, the bank code embedded in it is always the BLZ.
An IBAN identifies a specific bank account (who to pay); a SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank or financial institution (where to route the payment). For international transfers both are typically required: SWIFT routes the payment to the correct bank, and the IBAN specifies the exact account.
No. IBAN is used primarily in Europe (all EU/EEA countries), the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of the Caribbean. The United States, Canada, Australia, and most Asian countries do not use IBAN and rely on domestic formats like ABA Routing Numbers + account numbers.
Rearrange the IBAN so the first 4 characters are moved to the end. Convert each letter to its numeric equivalent (A=10, B=11, … Z=35). Then compute the numeric string mod 97. A valid IBAN always produces a remainder of 1.