IBAN

An IBAN is not a new bank account number. It uses existing sort codes and account numbers, and includes extra characters to create the IBAN.

However, you should never try to create or guess an IBAN. Please contact the person you are paying if you need to know their IBAN. Your own IBAN is printed on your bank statement.

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

Printed IBANs and electronic IBANS

When an IBAN is printed in paper form, the number is often split into groups of four characters. This makes it easier to read and check.

For example, a UK IBAN would look like this when printed:

Paper form       GB99 RBOS 1234 5612 3456 78

When the IBAN is used electronically – for example, within an online banking service – it should not contain blank spaces or the word 'IBAN'.

For example, a UK IBAN should look like this electronically:

Electronic form      GB99RBOS12345612345678

• View examples of other IBANs

Making payments

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

Do not give extra information – such as bank names, addresses or account numbers. This can cause problems with the payment.

Although you have to use IBAN and BIC for cross-border payments, you can also use them to make currency payments within the UK. However, if you’re simply making sterling payments within the UK, you should use sort codes and account numbers instead.

Receiving payments

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

• Provide the payer with your IBAN and BIC
• Do not provide any account number, bank name or address information

You can also provide your IBAN and BIC for payments being received from other countries worldwide, including currency payments within the UK.

For sterling payments within the UK, simply use your account number and sort code.

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

The BIC is a standard identifier for banks. It is issued by SWIFT and should be used on all international payments.

A BIC is either 8 or 11 digits long. Here is an example of our BIC:

• RBOSGB2L (8 digits)
• RBOSGB2LXXX (11 digits)

• Find out more about BIC codes on the SWIFT website

It’s important you check the format of each IBAN before you send a payment.

Our IBAN checker can verify the format of an IBAN from a member or joining country of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and other countries that have adopted the IBAN.

• Use the IBAN checker

Q. When should I use my IBAN and BIC?

A. You should print them on your invoices for clients outside the UK – in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

You should also use them when you’re instructing a foreign bank to make payments to your account.

On top of this, you can also use your IBAN and BIC for currency payments within the UK. However, for UK payments in sterling, you should carry on using your sort code and account number.

Q. What’s the purpose of IBAN and BIC?

A. They’re a simple way to identify your account and bank details – helping to speed up payments across country borders.

Q. Do I have to use my IBAN?

A. Yes. Here’s what you need to do:

• Making payments - if you want to make a payment to the EU or EEA (including Switzerland), you have to use the beneficiary’s IBAN and BIC
• Receiving payments - if you expect to receive payments from the EU or EEA (including Switzerland), you must print your IBAN and BIC on your invoices.

Q. The company I want to pay hasn’t given me their IBAN and BIC. What should I do?

A. If you need to make a payment to the EU or EEA (including Switzerland), you have to use the beneficiary company’s IBAN and BIC. By law, the company you’re paying should provide this information – they can find this on their statements.

It’s also worth knowing that the beneficiary's bank can reject your payment if you don’t use an IBAN and BIC.

If the company hasn’t provided their IBAN and BIC, you should ask for these details. You could also tell the beneficiary company that payment may be delayed or subject to additional charges if they don’t provide this information.

Q. Should I use my IBAN and BIC on UK invoices?

Most of the time, you don’t have to include IBAN and BIC information on UK invoices. However, if you’re expecting to receive a currency payment from another UK bank account, you can use the IBAN and BIC.