IBAN Number:
What is an IBAN?
An International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is the standard way to identify bank accounts across borders. Find IBAN formats, SWIFT codes, and example IBANs for 14 countries — plus how to pay contractors via IBAN without SWIFT wire fees.
How an IBAN is Structured
Every IBAN follows the same pattern: country code + check digits + BBAN (Basic Bank Account Number). The BBAN portion varies by country — it can include bank codes, branch codes, and account numbers in different orders.
Key facts about IBANs
Skip the $25–50 SWIFT Fee
Bitwage uses stablecoin rails — faster than SWIFT, cheaper than a wire.
IBAN Countries — Formats & Banks
Select a country to see IBAN format, length, example, and major banks with SWIFT codes.
Germany
Euro · EUR
United Kingdom
British Pound · GBP
France
Euro · EUR
Spain
Euro · EUR
Italy
Euro · EUR
Netherlands
Euro · EUR
Belgium
Euro · EUR
Austria
Euro · EUR
Poland
Polish Zloty · PLN
Portugal
Euro · EUR
Ireland
Euro · EUR
Sweden
Swedish Krona · SEK
Switzerland
Swiss Franc · CHF
Romania
Romanian Leu · RON
IBAN Checker & IBAN Calculator — How to Validate an IBAN
Before sending an international payment, always validate the recipient's IBAN. Most banks validate at submission — but you can also check manually:
- 1
Confirm the IBAN starts with the correct 2-letter country code (e.g., DE for Germany, GB for UK).
- 2
Check the IBAN length matches the country standard — Germany is 22 characters, France is 27, Netherlands is 18.
- 3
Move the first 4 characters to the end, convert letters to numbers (A=10, B=11, …), then divide by 97. A valid IBAN gives a remainder of 1.
- 4
For SEPA transfers, the IBAN alone is sufficient. For SWIFT wires, also confirm the bank's BIC/SWIFT code.
Bitwage validates every IBAN automatically. Our payment platform checks format, length, and checksum before any funds move — so you never route a payment to the wrong account.
IBAN FAQ
Common questions about IBAN numbers, international bank transfers, and SEPA payments.
An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardised format for identifying a bank account across national borders. It was developed by the ISO and ECBS to simplify cross-border payments — especially across the SEPA bank transfer zone.
An IBAN encodes the country code, check digits, and a bank-specific account identifier into a single alphanumeric string. When you initiate a SWIFT international wire transfer or SEPA transfer, your bank reads the IBAN to route the payment to the correct bank and branch automatically.
Over 70 countries use IBANs, including all EU/EEA member states, the UK, Switzerland, and some countries in the Middle East and Caribbean. Countries like the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Singapore do not use IBAN.
An IBAN identifies a specific bank account. A SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank itself. For a SWIFT international wire transfer international wire transfer you usually need both: the IBAN for the account and the SWIFT/BIC for the receiving bank.
Yes. Within the SEPA bank transfer zone (EU + a few others), SEPA transfers use the recipient's IBAN and are free or very low cost. For non-SEPA countries, Bitwage routes via stablecoin rails — faster and cheaper than a traditional wire transfer.
Add your contractor's IBAN and SWIFT/BIC to Bitwage's {{link:products/contractor-payments}} platform. Bitwage converts your USD balance, routes via SEPA or stablecoin, and delivers in local currency — typically same day.
Need to Pay Someone
with an IBAN?
Bitwage routes contractor and vendor payments via SEPA and stablecoin rails — faster than SWIFT, no flat wire fee.