How to Check a German Bank Account Number

German account numbers carry a check digit set by each bank's method. Learn how to verify one and catch a typo before paying.

Updated 3 min read By CodingEagles
Free tool Account Number Checker Validate a German account number's check digit. Open tool

German account numbers contain a hidden check digit, usually the last one. It is calculated from the remaining digits using a method chosen by each bank. The idea is that any single-digit typo changes the check digit and the mismatch gets caught before a payment goes through. The problem is there are dozens of different methods, and each bank picks its own.

How the check works

To verify a Kontonummer you need both the account number and the eight-digit bank code (BLZ). The BLZ tells the tool which check-digit method that bank uses. The account number is then tested against that method. If the check digit is consistent with the rest of the number, the account number passes.

Enter both into the German account number checker: paste the BLZ, paste the account number, and the tool reports pass or fail along with the method it used and the bank name.

When a method is not covered

The Bundesbank publishes dozens of check-digit procedures and not all are in common use. For less common methods the tool says so rather than guess. A “method not covered” result is not a failure. It means the tool cannot verify that particular bank’s format. Contact the bank directly if you need certainty.

What a passing result means

A pass means the check digit is internally consistent. It does not mean the account is open, that the name on the account matches, or that a payment would succeed. Use this check as a first filter to catch obvious typos before you enter details into your banking software, not as a guarantee the account is real.

TL;DR: Enter the BLZ and account number in the account number checker. A pass means no typo; it does not confirm the account is active.

Frequently asked questions

Why do some banks show as not covered?
German banks use many different check-digit methods. The common ones are supported; for the rest the tool says so rather than guessing.
Does a passing check mean the account is real?
No. It only means the check digit is consistent. Only the bank can confirm an account is open.

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