How to find out which bank an IBAN belongs to
The IBAN contains the bank's code. Where it sits in each country, how the institution is identified and what the check cannot tell you.
Every IBAN includes a code that identifies the bank. Its position and length depend on the country: in Spain it is digits 5 to 8 (Banco de España entity code), in Germany the 8-digit Bankleitzahl and in France the 5-digit bank code.
Structure examples
| Country | Length | Bank code |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 24 | 4 digits (positions 5–8) |
| Germany | 22 | 8 digits (positions 5–12) |
| France | 27 | 5 digits (positions 5–9) |
| Italy | 27 | 5-digit ABI (positions 6–10, after the CIN check character) |
| Netherlands | 18 | 4 letters (positions 5–8) |
| Belgium | 16 | 3 digits (positions 5–7) |
How we identify it
- We validate the country format, the IBAN check digits and, where one exists, the national check.
- We extract the bank code using the official structure in the SWIFT IBAN Registry.
- We look it up in official directories whose licence allows reuse (for example Banco de España or the Bundesbank).
- We show the BIC only when a source links it to that code, and say whether it is confirmed or a candidate.
Try it with our IBAN bank lookup.
What an IBAN does not tell you
- Whether the account exists or is open: only the bank can confirm that.
- Who holds it: that is what Verification of Payee is for.
- That an instant transfer will arrive: SEPA Instant participation is a prerequisite, not a delivery guarantee.