When you send or receive an international transfer, the single most important detail is the recipient's bank account number. The catch is that there is no universal format: the length, the structure and the extra codes that must travel with the account number all depend on the country and the payment method. This explainer walks through what a bank account number is, how it looks in several major countries, where to find it and what happens when it is wrong, so you can enter the right details when you pay someone with Coinepay Global Remittance.
What a bank account number actually is
A bank account number identifies one specific account at a financial institution. On its own it is rarely enough to route an international payment. Most schemes also need a separate identifier for the bank and sometimes the branch. In some countries those details are bundled into a single longer string; in others you supply them as separate fields.
Two broad models exist. In the IBAN world (much of Europe and beyond), the account number is wrapped inside an International Bank Account Number that already contains the country and bank details plus check digits. In the non-IBAN world (for example the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), the account number stays separate and you add a routing or branch code alongside it.
IBAN countries: the account number is built in
IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It begins with a two-letter country code, followed by two check digits calculated with a MOD 97-10 formula, and then a country-specific Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN) of up to 30 alphanumeric characters. The BBAN carries the bank identifier, and, where a country uses one, a branch identifier whose position and length vary by country.
- Germany: a 22-character IBAN —
DE, two check digits, an eight-digit bank identifier and a ten-digit account component. An obviously fictional example: DE00 1234 5678 9012 3456 78. - United Kingdom: domestically, banks route on an eight-digit account number plus a separate six-digit sort code. The UK's 22-character IBAN additionally contains a four-letter bank identifier.
- Brazil: the registered IBAN is 29 characters and includes bank, branch and account components. Brazil is not part of the SEPA zone.
Because each country fixes its own IBAN length, a number that is the right length for Germany will be the wrong length for another country. Always match the length to the destination country, not to a number you have seen before.
Non-IBAN countries: account number plus a routing code
Several large economies have not adopted IBAN. For these, do not try to invent one — use the exact details the receiving institution supplies.
- United States: an ACH payment uses a nine-digit routing-and-transit number together with a separate recipient account number. Nacha's file specification allots 17 characters to the account field, but that is a file limit, not a rule that every US account is 17 digits long.
- Canada: routing uses a five-digit transit/branch number and a three-digit financial-institution number, kept separate from the customer's account number. A nine-digit clearing-code form prefixes a
0to the institution and transit numbers. - Australia: a six-digit bank-state-branch (BSB) number precedes the account number, which is usually up to nine digits. Leading zeros that belong to the account number must be preserved.
- New Zealand: BNZ shows the format
02-NNNN-NNNNNNN-NNN— a two-digit bank identifier, four-digit branch, seven-digit account and three-digit suffix. New Zealand has not adopted IBAN, so recipients should give the full number printed on their statement. - Mexico: the 18-digit CLABE encodes three digits for the bank, three for the location (plaza), 11 for the account information and one control digit. SPEI transfers can also use other eligible linked identifiers, so CLABE is not the only possible input.
- India: for NEFT you need the beneficiary's account number plus the branch's IFSC, an 11-character alphanumeric branch code. The IFSC is not the account number.
- Singapore: there is no single length across FAST banks — the Association of Banks in Singapore lists, for example, nine digits for POSB savings/current accounts and ten for DBS. Enter digits without dashes or spaces.
Aliases are not account numbers
Some systems let you pay to a shortcut instead of typing the full account. In Brazil, a registered Pix key can identify a recipient, with a manual branch-and-account route also available. A Pix key is not itself the underlying account number. Similarly, a Mexican CLABE's control digit only checks the structure, not who owns the account. Treat an alias as a separate thing from the account it points to.
Related codes at a glance
| Code | Where | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|
| IBAN | Europe and many other countries | Country, bank, branch and account in one string with check digits |
| Sort code | United Kingdom | Six-digit bank and branch, separate from the account number |
| Routing number | United States | Nine-digit bank for ACH, separate from the account number |
| BSB | Australia | Six-digit bank-state-branch before the account number |
| IFSC | India | 11-character branch code for NEFT |
| CLABE | Mexico | 18-digit standardised bank account key |
When you need it, and when you do not
For a bank-deposit payout you always need the account number and any required routing or branch code for that country. If you pay into a mobile wallet instead — for example UPI, GCash, Maya, M-Pesa, bKash, JazzCash or GoPay — you typically use the registered mobile number or wallet ID, not a bank account number. For cash pickup, the recipient is identified by name and a reference rather than an account. Choose the payout method first, then collect the matching details.
Common mistakes and what happens if it is wrong
- Dropping leading zeros. Australian direct-entry rules say to keep significant leading zeros. A spreadsheet that strips them produces a wrong account number.
- Omitting the routing or branch code. Sending a US account number without the routing number, or an Indian account without the IFSC, can cause rejection.
- Applying one country's length to another. Lengths differ by bank and scheme, as the Singapore FAST sheet shows, so never force a number to a length that looks familiar.
- Trusting a valid checksum. A correct IBAN check digit or CLABE control digit proves the structure is well-formed, not that the account exists or belongs to the named person. Nacha notes a US institution may post an ACH entry on the account number alone even if the name differs.
If you discover a wrong number after sending, act quickly. Banco de México, for instance, advises a sender who used an erroneous CLABE to contact their bank with the transaction evidence. In the euro area, verification of payee compares the stated name against the account before you authorise a covered transfer, but a mismatch is information for you to review — it does not by itself prove or block the payment.
How Coinepay uses these details
In the Coinepay app or dashboard, choose Global Remittance, select the destination country and the bank-deposit payout method, then enter the recipient's account number and whichever extra code that country requires — IBAN, sort code, routing number, BSB, IFSC or CLABE. Copy the characters exactly from the recipient's own statement or confirmation, with no spaces unless the field keeps them. The app shows you the exchange rate and fees before you confirm, and every transfer has status tracking so you can follow it to payout.
All transfers are subject to identity verification, sanctions screening and local regulations, and Coinepay may ask for supporting documents such as the purpose or source of funds. Coinepay sends to every country and region except those under comprehensive sanctions, and all customers and counterparties are screened. To get started, create an account and complete verification, or download the app for iOS or Android. If you are unsure which codes a destination needs, contact Coinepay support before you send.
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FAQ
Is a bank account number the same in every country?
No. Length and structure vary, and most countries pair the account number with a separate routing or branch code. Europe and many other countries use an IBAN that bundles those details together, while countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand keep them separate.
Do I need an IBAN to send money to the US, Canada or Australia?
No. These countries have not adopted IBAN. Use the account number plus the local code the receiving institution provides \u2014 a US routing number, a Canadian transit and institution number, or an Australian BSB. New Zealand recipients should give the full number from their statement.
What happens if I enter the wrong account number?
The transfer may be rejected, or it could post to the wrong account, because a valid checksum only confirms the format, not the owner. If you realise a number is wrong after sending, contact support with your transaction details as soon as possible so the issue can be investigated.
Do I need an account number if I pay to a mobile wallet?
Usually not. Wallet payouts such as UPI, GCash, Maya, M-Pesa, bKash, JazzCash or GoPay are identified by a registered phone number or wallet ID. Cash pickup uses the recipient's name and a reference. A bank account number is needed for bank-deposit payouts.
Where do I find the right code for a destination country in Coinepay?
When you set up a Global Remittance in the Coinepay app, select the country and bank-deposit method and the form prompts for the codes that country needs. Copy the account number and any IBAN, sort code, routing number, BSB, IFSC or CLABE exactly from the recipient's statement, or contact Coinepay support if you are unsure.
Related guides
- OUR, SHA and BEN charge options: What They Mean for Transfers
- Beneficiary Name Mismatch on International Transfers: What to Do
- MT103 Payment Confirmation: What It Is and How to Use It
- Purpose of Remittance Codes in India: What They Are and How to Use Them
- SEPA Transfers: What It Is and How to Use It for Transfers
- Intermediary and Correspondent Banks: A Transfer Guide
