What is an IBAN Converter? How to Convert an IBAN into an Account Number

The term IBAN is completely foreign to some customers, even though they have used the services of a bank their whole life. This however makes sense, considering that customers who have never transferred money abroad don't have to use an IBAN number. Therefore, this guide aims to explain why IBANs exist, what they represent, and how to convert and decode certain bank details to derive an IBAN when arranging an international money transfer.

What is an IBAN?

The IBAN or International Bank Account Number was developed to reduce transaction errors in international transfers. An IBAN is an alphanumeric code made up of the name of the bank, branch, sort code and account number. It is used to identify a customer's account with a bank when transferring money from an account in one country to an account abroad. Verifying your payee's IBAN number will determine the difference between a payment arriving safely at its
destination or lose in the system.

Although the format varies from country to country, IBAN numbers contain the following information:

• Country code
• Account number
• Sort code
• Check digits

Why would you need an IBAN?

If you're creating a global payment to a checking account in any of the eighty countries that use IBAN numbers, you will be needed to produce this information.

Another globally recognised, standardised methodology of identification when making international payments is BIC or SWIFT codes: you'll be able to establish additional information concerning them here.

Each SWIFT code and IBAN are momentous elements of transferring money to a distant country and both systems have effectively increased the method of sending cross-border money transfers.

An IBAN converter works very like an IBAN calculator because it uses info to identify a commercial bank account variety – also called Basic checking account variety or BBAN – to convert bank details into the relevant International checking account Number.

How to convert an IBAN?

Associate IBAN converter works similarly to an IBAN calculator (link to IBAN calculator article) because it uses data equivalent to National Bank Account Number – additionally referred to as Basic bank account number or BAN – to convert bank details into the relevant International Bank Account Number. Depending on the country you're situated in, IBAN conversions are going to be conducted by requesting some or all of the subsequent information:

• Sort code
• Account number
• Bank/branch code
• Bank name

Due to technological advancements, free on-line convertor tools are designed to require this restricted banking info and convert it into the IBAN needed to successfully process cross-border transactions. Verify the results of an IBAN convertor by using an IBAN checker to veryfy the right bank or financial institution has been selected.

Summary

This guide has been written in an effort to offer the basic information needed for a client to issue a successful international money transfer, albeit through a bank or with a money transfer service just like the ones listed on our page. Readers curious about discovering the simplest price deal for his or her cross border remittance, should use our comparison tool to find out more.