If you are sending money to a bank account abroad, you may be asked for an IBAN. It is an account identifier, not a transfer service or a code you can invent from someone’s name. Knowing when to use it—and checking it against the recipient’s actual account details—can help you avoid a misdirected or rejected payment.
What is an IBAN?
IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It identifies an account at a financial institution using a format defined under ISO 13616. Banks and payment providers use it to identify the account intended to receive a payment. An IBAN does not, by itself, tell you whether that account is open or belongs to the person or business you intend to pay.
An IBAN is not universal: countries that use it have their own registered formats. It is commonly used for domestic and cross-border euro transfers and direct debits in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), as well as for applicable payments outside SEPA. Having an IBAN does not mean a country belongs to SEPA. Brazil, for example, uses IBANs but is not in SEPA.
What does an IBAN look like?
An IBAN begins with a two-letter country code, followed by two check digits and a country-specific Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN). The BBAN can contain up to 30 letters and digits, making the maximum IBAN length 34 characters. Each participating country specifies its own length and BBAN structure: German and UK IBANs are 22 characters long, while Brazilian IBANs are 29.
Here is an obviously fictional, nonfunctional UK-style illustration: GB00 FAKE 0000 0000 0000 00. The letters “FAKE” and placeholder digits make it unsuitable as payment details. The spaces show how an IBAN might be displayed for reading; when entering it electronically, use the account provider’s actual IBAN without spaces if the form expects the electronic format.
The two check digits are designed to catch some typing errors using a mathematical check. A number that passes that check is not proof that the account exists, is active or belongs to your intended recipient. Never use a published example or a number you constructed yourself to send money.
Where can you find an IBAN?
For your own account, check the account details in your bank’s app or online banking, or look at an account statement. Availability and the exact location depend on your bank. If you cannot find it, ask the institution that holds your account whether it has an IBAN and which details someone should use to pay you.
To pay another person or business, ask them for the IBAN supplied by their bank or account provider. Confirm the recipient’s full account name and any other details requested for that transfer. If payment instructions arrive in a changed invoice or an unexpected message, verify the change with the recipient through a contact method you already trust before sending. Do not substitute an IBAN found in an online example.
If you are receiving a transfer through Coinepay Global Remittance, check the receiving or payout details requested in the Coinepay app. For a bank deposit to an IBAN-using account, give the sender the IBAN provided by the institution holding that account, together with the other details the transfer requires. A mobile-wallet or cash-pickup payout uses different recipient information; an IBAN should not be added merely because the payment is international.
When do you need an IBAN—and when do you not?
You generally need an IBAN when the receiving account uses one and the chosen bank-transfer route requests it. For a SEPA euro credit transfer, the payer generally supplies the recipient’s IBAN without separately supplying a BIC. Requirements for other international bank transfers vary, so follow the receiving institution’s instructions and the fields shown for your chosen payout route.
A US bank account generally does not have an IBAN because the United States does not participate in the IBAN system. Do not try to turn a US account number into an IBAN. Ask the receiving bank which account, routing and, if applicable, SWIFT/BIC details its particular incoming transfer requires. Likewise, if the recipient will collect cash or receive funds in a mobile wallet, use the details required for that method rather than assuming a bank-account identifier is needed.
| Detail | What it identifies | When you might need it |
|---|---|---|
| IBAN | A bank account in a country that uses IBANs | Bank transfers to an account whose payment instructions require one |
| BIC or SWIFT code | A bank or other business identified by a Business Identifier Code | Some international bank transfers; often not separately required from the payer for SEPA payments |
| Local account and routing details | An account and its domestic routing information, according to local rules | Transfers to accounts that do not use IBANs, such as many US bank accounts |
How do you use an IBAN when sending with Coinepay?
- Set up access. Register with your real identity and complete the identity verification requested for the service. Individuals and businesses can use Coinepay Global Remittance for cross-border transfers, subject to applicable checks and availability.
- Choose the recipient and payout method. In the Coinepay app or self-service dashboard, enter the destination and select an available payout route. Coinepay supports bank account deposit, mobile wallets and cash pickup. If you select bank deposit to an account that uses an IBAN, use the recipient’s current IBAN and the other details requested on the transfer form.
- Check the details before confirming. Compare the IBAN, recipient name and payout method with instructions you verified directly with the recipient. Review the exchange rate and fees shown before you confirm the transfer; do not treat the IBAN’s check digits as a substitute for this review.
- Keep track of the transfer. Coinepay provides status tracking for every transfer. If you notice an incorrect account detail after submission, check the status and contact Coinepay support promptly with the transfer information. Do not assume a submitted transfer can be changed or recalled.
Transfers are subject to identity verification, sanctions screening and local regulations. Coinepay may request documents explaining the payment’s purpose or source of funds. It does not serve sanctioned persons or residents of jurisdictions under comprehensive sanctions, and transfers cannot be sent to those jurisdictions. Check the app for the options available to your transfer.
Common IBAN mistakes and what happens if one is wrong
- Using the wrong country’s length or prefix. IBAN lengths vary by country. A form that forces one domestic length or pre-fills a domestic country prefix may reject an otherwise valid foreign IBAN. Recheck the recipient’s details rather than editing their IBAN to fit the form.
- Mistyping a character. Confusing letters and digits, omitting a character or adding spaces where they are not accepted may cause a validation error. Copy the IBAN from a trusted source and compare it character by character.
- Using old or unverified instructions. A valid-looking IBAN may point somewhere other than the intended recipient. Confirm unexpected account changes independently before paying.
- Entering an IBAN for the wrong payout route. A US bank deposit, mobile wallet or cash pickup may require different information. Follow the selected route’s fields instead of forcing an IBAN into another field.
An incorrect IBAN or other recipient detail can cause a transfer to be rejected or delayed. A format check can catch some errors, but it cannot establish account ownership. Some covered euro credit transfers offer verification of the intended payee before initiation; if a service displays a mismatch or close-match warning, stop and check the details with the recipient. Do not assume that proceeding past a warning will send money to the right person.
If a form rejects an IBAN from another EU member state solely because it is foreign, that may be IBAN discrimination for a covered SEPA euro transfer or direct debit. First confirm that the IBAN and payment type are correct, then raise the issue with the provider. The relevant national competent authority can handle complaints about the applicable EU rules.
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FAQ
Is an IBAN the same as a SWIFT code?
No. An IBAN identifies an account; a BIC, often called a SWIFT code, identifies a bank or other business. The details required depend on the transfer.
Does a US bank account have an IBAN?
Generally no. Ask the receiving bank which account, routing and SWIFT/BIC details it requires for the particular transfer.
Can I send money if an IBAN passes a format check?
A format check catches some input errors but does not confirm account ownership. Verify the IBAN and recipient name through a trusted contact method before sending.
Do I need an IBAN for a Coinepay mobile-wallet payout?
Not merely because the transfer is international. Select the mobile-wallet payout route and provide the recipient details requested for that method.
What should I do if I entered the wrong IBAN in Coinepay?
Check the transfer status and contact Coinepay support promptly with the transfer information. Do not assume a submitted transfer can be changed or recalled.
Related guides
- 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
- Wire Transfer vs ACH: What’s the Difference for International Transfers?
- CNAPS Code: What It Is and How to Use It for Transfers
- Canadian Transit and Institution Number: What It Is and How to Use It
