IBAN checker and SWIFT/BIC format validator

Paste an IBAN to check its country code, length and mod-97 check digits, or a SWIFT/BIC code to check its structure. The check runs in your browser and nothing is sent or stored. It confirms the format only and cannot tell whether the account exists or who holds it.

What an IBAN check can and cannot tell you

An IBAN carries two check digits, in positions 3 and 4, calculated from the rest of the number (the mod-97 method in ISO 13616). If one character is mistyped or two are swapped, the check almost always fails, so a format check catches most typos before a payment is sent.

A valid format does not prove that the account is open or that it belongs to the person you are paying. Banks on the route may also compare the account holder's name with the name in the payment. Confirm the details with the recipient in writing before the first payment.

IBAN, BIC and SWIFT: what each one is for

The IBAN identifies one bank account: country code, check digits, then the domestic bank and account number. The BIC identifies the bank itself: 4 letters for the bank, 2 for the country, 2 for the location and an optional 3 for the branch. SWIFT is the network banks use to send payment instructions to each other, which is why a BIC is often called a SWIFT code.

How these fit into ACH, Wire, SWIFT and SEPA payments is explained in our guide to cross-border settlements, and every term is defined in the payments glossary.

IBAN format by country

Countries in the IBAN registry, with the IBAN length and whether the country is in the SEPA area.