Finance glossary
IBAN — International Bank Account Number
Also known as: International Bank Account Number
In simple terms
An IBAN is a standardised account number used for sending and receiving money internationally. It identifies the country, bank and your specific account in one long string.
On this page
What does IBAN mean?
IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It is an internationally agreed format for identifying a bank account when money crosses borders, used across the UK, Europe and many other countries.
A UK IBAN starts with the country code “GB”, followed by two check digits, a bank code, the sort code and the account number — all combined into one reference.
How an IBAN works
When you receive money from abroad, you give the sender your IBAN so their bank can route the payment to exactly the right account. The check digits let the system spot most typing errors before the payment is sent.
For payments within the UK you normally just use a sort code and account number; the IBAN mainly comes into play for international or cross-border transfers, often alongside a BIC or SWIFT code that identifies the bank.
How could this affect me?
If you are being paid from overseas — wages, a refund, family support — you will usually be asked for your IBAN. You can find it on your statement or in your banking app.
Getting a single character wrong can delay a payment or send it astray, and international transfers can be slow and costly to recall, so double-check the IBAN before sharing it.
Things to watch out for
- A single wrong character can misdirect or delay an international payment.
- For UK-to-UK payments you usually only need a sort code and account number, not an IBAN.
- International transfers can carry fees and exchange-rate costs — check both before sending.
- Only share your IBAN with people and organisations you trust and expect to pay you.
General information, not personal advice
Consumer Credit is an independent information service. We do not provide regulated financial advice or sell financial products. For advice on your own situation, speak to an appropriately authorised firm or a free service such as MoneyHelper. About Consumer Credit.
Sources
We checked this page against these official and authoritative sources.
- MoneyHelper, Making and receiving international payments (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.