How to Build an IBAN From a Bank Code and Account Number

See how the two IBAN check digits are calculated and how to turn a country, bank code and account number into a valid IBAN.

Updated 3 min read By CodingEagles
Free tool IBAN Calculator Build a valid IBAN from a country, bank code and account number. Open tool

Banks in many countries still issue account details as a bank code plus a local account number. If you need to send money internationally, you have to convert those into an IBAN first, and most online forms do not do it for you.

The parts of an IBAN

An IBAN is built from three pieces: the two-letter country code, a bank code (BLZ in Germany), and the account number. The country determines how those pieces fit together and how many digits each must have. Short account numbers are padded with leading zeros to fill the required positions.

How the check digits are calculated

Once the country code, bank code, and account number are assembled, two check digits are worked out and inserted after the country code. The process: move the first four characters to the end, replace each letter with a two-digit number, then run a modulo-97 calculation on the resulting string. The check digits are chosen so the result is 1. This is the same algorithm banks use to validate IBANs.

Country lengths vary

Each country sets its own IBAN format and total length. German IBANs are 22 characters; French IBANs are 27; some are as short as 15, others as long as 34. The calculator applies the correct format for the selected country automatically.

Confirm before you pay

The IBAN this tool produces will have a correct format and valid check digits, which means it passes the same mathematical check any bank would run. But a correct format is not the same as a correct account. A bank code might be out of date, or the account number in your records might have an error. Before using a calculated IBAN for an actual payment, confirm the details with your bank or the account holder directly.

TL;DR: Enter the country, bank code, and account number in the IBAN calculator and it assembles the full IBAN with correct check digits.

Frequently asked questions

Can I trust a calculated IBAN?
The format and check digits will be correct, but always confirm important account details with your bank before sending money.
Why do different countries have different IBAN lengths?
Each country defines its own bank and account number format, so the total IBAN length varies from 15 to 34 characters.

Ready to try it?

Build a valid IBAN from a country, bank code and account number. Free, in-browser, and 100% private — your data never leaves your device.

Open the IBAN Calculator