{"id":6874,"date":"2023-09-30T11:30:31","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T11:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/?page_id=6874"},"modified":"2025-05-07T08:58:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T08:58:00","slug":"what-is-an-iban-number","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an IBAN number"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"6874\" class=\"elementor elementor-6874\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eb4554c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"eb4554c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f17fa5\" data-id=\"5f17fa5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd9e061 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-breadcrumbs\" data-id=\"cd9e061\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"breadcrumbs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/app3\/plugins\/elementor-pro\/assets\/css\/widget-theme-elements.min.css?ver=1736731740\"><p id=\"breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/\">Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-99a39e2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"99a39e2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f01ff5d\" data-id=\"f01ff5d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82992e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"82992e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is an IBAN number?<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d07882 partners-description elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d07882\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>An International Bank Account Number (IBAN), is an internationally recognised code that is used when sending or receiving international payments. Comprising of 34 letters and numbers, your IBAN number is a combination of your account number and sort code written in a standardised format.<\/p>\n<p>It also includes some characters to help banks identify the specific bank and country you are sending money to.<\/p>\n<p>This information helps process your international transfers automatically, making it faster, easier and cheaper to carry out cross-border money transfers. IBAN numbers are the only permissible account identifiers for SEPA payments.<\/p>\n<p>To summarise, an IBAN is used to verify that the transaction details provided are correct. This decreases financial transaction errors when processing international and domestic payments.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1b67d6f elementor-section-content-middle elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1b67d6f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fcb915f\" data-id=\"fcb915f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f97f12d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f97f12d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What does an IBAN number look like?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1071a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f1071a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Find your IBAN<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"x-text x-content e2022-e19 m1k6-p m1k6-r m1k6-s m1k6-y m1k6-10 m1k6-12\"><p>You can find your IBAN number by logging into your online banking platform or by checking your paper bank statement.<\/p><p><strong>Things to consider:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Your IBAN being in the correct format doesn\u2019t guarantee that it exists<\/li><li>Your IBAN being in the correct format may not represent the right destination<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-083c1f3\" data-id=\"083c1f3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-649acd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"649acd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.marmot-cloud.com\/worldfirst\/sites\/15\/2023\/09\/IBAN-breakdown.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6924\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.marmot-cloud.com\/worldfirst\/sites\/15\/2023\/09\/IBAN-breakdown.png 900w, https:\/\/cdn.marmot-cloud.com\/worldfirst\/sites\/15\/2023\/09\/IBAN-breakdown-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.marmot-cloud.com\/worldfirst\/sites\/15\/2023\/09\/IBAN-breakdown-768x454.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b637c83 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b637c83\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2ca2030\" data-id=\"2ca2030\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93c944a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"93c944a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What happens if you enter the wrong IBAN number?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-edf5bc4 partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"edf5bc4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"x-text x-content e2022-e24 m1k6-r m1k6-v m1k6-w m1k6-x m1k6-y m1k6-z\"><ul><li>The payment will be rejected and bounce back to the sender<\/li><li>You may be charged a fee<\/li><li>If the IBAN number is correct, but isn\u2019t valid for the intended destination, your money may be sent to the wrong account<\/li><\/ul><p>Always check the IBAN code with your recipient or payment provider when sending or receiving money \u2013 if caught on time you may be able to cancel your transaction.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c1709dd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c1709dd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-37a329a\" data-id=\"37a329a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26851f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"26851f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Which countries use IBAN numbers?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1d061f partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d1d061f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"x-text x-content e2022-e24 m1k6-r m1k6-v m1k6-w m1k6-x m1k6-y m1k6-z\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e2022-e29 m1k6-r m1k6-v m1k6-w m1k6-x m1k6-y m1k6-z\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e2022-e29 m1k6-r m1k6-v m1k6-w m1k6-x m1k6-y m1k6-z\"><p>IBAN numbers are used within all European Union countries and the majority of other European countries. It is important to note that some major countries such as the USA do not use the IBAN system but do recognise and process payments in accordance with the system.<\/p><p>Take a look at the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swift.com\/standards\/data-standards\/iban-international-bank-account-number\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IBAN country List<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8576916 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8576916\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-711cf7e\" data-id=\"711cf7e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58b7a38 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"58b7a38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">IBAN, SWIFT and BIC \u2013 what\u2019s the difference?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-360f9ad partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"360f9ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"x-text x-content e2022-e24 m1k6-r m1k6-v m1k6-w m1k6-x m1k6-y m1k6-z\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e2022-e29 m1k6-r m1k6-v m1k6-w m1k6-x m1k6-y m1k6-z\"><p>A Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) code is another internationally recognised method of identifying bank accounts when making international payments.<\/p><p>SWIFT itself is a global network that processes payments between different countries, and is the main system used throughout the financial world to make payments with speed, safety and assurance.<\/p><p id=\"SWIFT-BIC-code\">SWIFT codes are used to identify a specific bank or branch. BIC stands for Bank Identification Code (or Bank Identifier Code) and is a term used interchangeably with SWIFT.<\/p><p>As with IBAN numbers, SWIFT\/BIC codes can be found on your paper statements or by logging into your online banking account.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4b77846 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4b77846\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8a22bea\" data-id=\"8a22bea\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2990901 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2990901\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Important<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77b2b82 partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77b2b82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAt WorldFirst, we pay you and your nominated beneficiaries via the SWIFT network.\n\nOnce we&#8217;ve received your cleared funds, we pay the account(s) on the agreed date.\n\nWe&#8217;ll send you confirmation to let you know when everything has gone through. For more information <a href=\"\/uk\/help-support\/world-account-faqs\/\" rel=\"noopener\">take a look at our FAQs<\/a>.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-740d1f9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"740d1f9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8bd7c31\" data-id=\"8bd7c31\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cdd7406 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cdd7406\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">So, are SWIFT and BIC codes the same thing?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba52df1 partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba52df1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes. Both are used to identify a specific bank when a payment is being made. The only difference is the name they\u2019re given across different banks, payment providers and financial bodies.<\/p><p>They are often referred to as SWIFT\/BIC codes or BIC\/SWIFT codes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e77de1b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e77de1b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-46dca85\" data-id=\"46dca85\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15789ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"15789ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What does a SWIFT code look like?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2df800 partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b2df800\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>4-character bank code<\/li><li>2-character country code (telling you which country the bank is in)<\/li><li>2-character location code (denoted bank\u2019s head office location<\/li><li>3-character branch code<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0a81d30 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0a81d30\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d7a1ce\" data-id=\"0d7a1ce\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c97460 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c97460\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is an ABA number?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02f4f9f partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"02f4f9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When making a money transfer to the USA, you\u2019ll need to ask for your payee\u2019s ABA number. If they are unsure of their number, it can typically be found on the bottom left-hand corner of each check in their check book.<\/p><p>An ABA number, also known as a <strong>bank routing number<\/strong>, or a <strong>routing transit number<\/strong> (RTN) is a nine-digit code that identifies banks in the U.S.<\/p><p>Every US bank or financial institution has a different ABA number, which is used by both domestic and international banks to locate the specific branch for payment, which is why it\u2019s important to enter the correct code when making a payment to a US bank account.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fde7689 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fde7689\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cd0ba79\" data-id=\"cd0ba79\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06e262a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"06e262a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">More information<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-817aa0d partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"817aa0d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/\" rel=\"noopener\">IBAN vs SWIFT<\/a> \u2013 find out more on sending and receiving international payments as we breakdown the <a href=\"\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/\" rel=\"noopener\">main differences between IBAN numbers and SWIFT codes<\/a> in more detail.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4c97eb4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4c97eb4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-54bfdda\" data-id=\"54bfdda\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9c73b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e9c73b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Avoid high fees when sending money abroad<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-703fe3a partners-description elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"703fe3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you\u2019re looking for an IBAN because you need to send money to a friend, family member, or an overseas a supplier, you\u2019ll also want a clear breakdown on what the international money transfer will cost you.<\/p><p>International bank transfer fees can be confusing and very costly. When sending money abroad through your bank, you will usually be charged an international money transfer fee, the cost of which varies from bank to bank. On top of this you may have to pay a margin of up to 2.3%* on the daily exchange rate. This could make a big difference to the cost of your international payments and result in your recipient getting less than you might think.<\/p><p>If you want to get the best price available for sending money abroad, using an international money transfer specialist instead of your high street bank could save you money.<\/p><p>In 2019, WorldFirst rolled out a new\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/pricing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pricing structure<\/a>\u00a0offering simplicity and transparency, with just three pricing tiers for all our customers.<\/p><p>With our standardised pricing, you will receive a fixed fee using 3 clear FX margin bands applied across 28 currencies. All our fees are incorporated into the FX margin.<\/p><p>A good way to check on the combined impact of the upfront fees and exchange rate used for your transfer, is to look at the amount that your recipient will get if you send a fixed amount of money with different providers.<\/p><p>* See high street bank\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/pricing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pricing comparison<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is an IBAN number? An International Bank Account Number (IBAN), is an internationally recognised code that is used when sending or receiving international payments. Comprising of 34 letters and numbers, your IBAN number is a combination of your account number and sort code written in a standardised format. It also includes some characters to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"parent":9034,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is an IBAN number? | WorldFirst UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is an internationally recognised code used when sending or receiving international payments\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is an IBAN number\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"An International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is an internationally recognised code used when sending or receiving international payments\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WorldFirst UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-07T08:58:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.marmot-cloud.com\/worldfirst\/sites\/15\/2023\/09\/IBAN-breakdown.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"What is an IBAN number\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-30T11:30:31+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-07T08:58:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/\"},\"wordCount\":975,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.marmot-cloud.com\/worldfirst\/sites\/15\/2023\/09\/IBAN-breakdown.png\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.worldfirst.com\/uk\/help-support\/what-is-an-iban-number\/\",\"name\":\"What is an IBAN number? 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