Converting IBAN to BIC
Calculate an IBAN
Validate IBAN
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Can you convert IBAN to BIC?
Converting an IBAN to a BIC number directly is not possible, as the BIC (Bank Identifier Code) is not embedded within the IBAN (International Bank Account Number).
However, if you need to find your BIC number using IBAN, you can do one of the following:
Find it on your bank statements: often, your bank statement or the account details provided by your bank will include both the IBAN and the BIC.
Find it in your online banking account: Many banks provide the BIC in the account information section of their online banking portals.
Contact your bank: If you cannot find the BIC using the methods above, contact your bank directly. The bank's customer service can provide the BIC.
IBAN vs BIC: The key differences
Both IBAN and BIC are essential for ensuring funds are transferred to the correct bank account and both are written in a standard, internationally recognised format. They help banks process international payments automatically, quickly, and securely.
Here's a quick summary of the key differences between IBAN and BIC codes.
Feature | IBAN (International Bank Account Number) | BIC (Bank Identifier Code) |
|---|---|---|
Purpose | Used for international transactions to identify bank accounts | Used to uniquely identify a bank or financial institution globally |
Format | Alphanumeric code, up to 34 characters | Alphanumeric code, 8 or 11 characters long |
Components | Country code, two check digits, and a Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN) | Bank code, country code, location code, and optionally a branch code |
Scope | International | International |
Countries Used | Over 82+ countries, mainly in Europe, Middle East, and the Caribbean | |
Standardization | ISO 13616-1:2007 | ISO 9362 |
Examples | GB82 WEST 1234 5698 7654 32 | DEUTDEFF (8 characters) or DEUTDEFF500 (11 characters) |
Usage | Ensures accurate processing of cross-border transactions | Identifies the specific bank involved in the transaction |
Introduction Year | 1997 | 1973 |
Validation | Includes check digits for error detection and validation | Structured format allows for verification |
IBAN
IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number, a type of identification code used by banks and financial institutions in 82+ regions around the world. An IBAN consists of an international component, a country code, check digits, and a domestic bank account number. This information helps identify an individual’s bank account.
BIC (Swfit)
A Bank Identifier Code (BIC) or Swift code simply identifies the bank that an account is held with.
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Russell Pinkes
I can’t send money to Belize
Katsiaryna
Once trying to open sire, was automatically blocked for no reason
Alan
Unable to transfer money from Philippines to any other country. Philippines Wise does not work
Anonymous
Retiro de dinero en transferencia
Uwe
great rates and service - unfortunately for some countries not yet available
Martin Premprakash Anantharaman
On the first transfer to a hospital in NY they were already screaming that this was a sure scam and the same on my next transfer to a fried in Nigeria. They then summarily closed my account TERMINATING THE RUNNING TRANSFER TO NIGERIA, claiming that, hold on, I was being scammed🤦♂️ Sure, I could have appealed but immediately found that I would have had to provide so much intrusive detail that I desisted.
Martin Premprakash Anantharaman
Setting up is a bit unwieldy if you want to make a one-off transfer, as you have to create an account with complete identification - but it works and the process as well as charges are great.
Anonymous
My brother wants to send me money from India to Nigeria but he's finding it difficult how can he do it
Mohammed
WARNING : Wise was Great until main office decided to ruin WISE By letting the TW India office control handling Random verifications and do what ever they want by insane replies and no replies etc. If you want to waste your time and enjoy a journey into Black Hole of Insane then go ahead and try WISE !
Anonymous
Can't receive money from php to idr so far
sudheir
They don't allow transfer to Brokerage firms from India
Anonymous
Good app to transfer money
Anonymous
I didn't find Cuba on your list.
Anonymous
cuba not work
Nina
I made a transfer to a Canadian company 1.5 months ago, and the funds have not yet been received. After multiple emails, Wise insists that the money was paid out. However, I have received an official statement from the recipient’s bank confirming that the money has not been received. Wise's complaints department sent me a final letter stating that, according to their records, the funds were paid out. Additionally, Wise states the following in their Customer Agreement regarding their responsibility for losses: Quote from Wise's Terms: "Our Customer Agreement also explains our responsibility for losses in Section 29: 29.1 Unforeseeable loss or damage. We are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if either it is obvious that it will happen or if, at the time the contract was made, both we and you knew it might happen, for example, if you discussed it with us during your sign-up process. 29.9 We are not liable for things which are outside of our control. We (and our affiliates) cannot be liable for our inability to deliver or delay because of things which are outside our control." Despite these terms, Wise has not been able to resolve this issue, and the money has still not been delivered as promised. I find it irresponsible that Wise does not conduct any investigations into the matter. The Canadian bank associated with Wise is unable to provide any information, as everything goes through Wise. Wise must be capable of tracking the funds and providing precise details about where exactly the money is, who received it, and to which bank account it was deposited. I would advise everyone to be cautious when transferring large sums of money with Wise. They are not capable of executing a secure money transfer!
Shengjie Yin
good and perfect
Tristan
Beware: Wise's Unethical Policies and Unresponsive Support Cost My Business I am sharing my experience with Wise to warn fellow business owners about the serious risks and unacceptable practices you may encounter if you choose to use their services. My business, is a legally registered travel agency in the UK, and I relied on Wise to manage payments for my photography and cultural tours, primarily in South America. Things took a turn for the worse when Wise froze my account and accused my business of violating their Acceptable Use Policy, citing my once-a-year humanitarian trip to Cuba. Despite explaining multiple times that: No Cuba-related transactions were ever processed through Wise (I use a separate European bank for this purpose), My tours comply with the “Support for Cuban People” category authorized by OFAC, designed to help Cuban citizens outside state control, Wise completely ignored the facts. Their customer support team responded with automated messages, refused to engage in any meaningful dialogue, and even lied, claiming they didn't monitor my emails—despite clear evidence to the contrary. After days of chasing them and providing thorough documentation, they chose to close my account without justification. The Consequences: Wise left my business in chaos, disrupting essential transactions and client arrangements. Their rigid policies align with sanctions widely condemned by the global community, and in doing so, they indirectly support humanitarian suffering. The Bottom Line: Wise is unreliable, unresponsive, and unethical. If your business has any complexity or humanitarian focus, beware: Wise will shut you down without notice or explanation, and customer support will abandon you. Their actions have serious real-world consequences. Avoid Wise if you value your business stability or require ethical and accountable financial services. There are far better alternatives out there that won’t put your livelihood at risk Beware: Wise's Unethical Policies and Unresponsive Support Cost My Business
Anonymous
I have been a customer for a few years. Yes I love the instant deposits as I make around $1K. However as many non US entities Wise uses a bank out of New York. Therefore the TRANSFER and DEPOSIT from an account transfer can take 4 to 6 days. What this means is that you will not able to make another ACH transfer during this time. This is frustrating if you have to make a follow up transfer in a few days. All in all don't plan to make more than 4 transfer in a month because it may not fo through, Not sure if other transfer companies operate the same way but I am about to find out as I will try Revolute. Bottom linw will require you to use ANOTHER payment method like credit card or some other method. Understand this: YOU MAY HAVE THE MONEY IN YOUR ACCOUNT but they WILL NOT TRY TO VERIFY IT WITHIN THE THE PERIOD IT WILL TAKE THEM TO DEPOSIT IT IN YOUR ACCOUNT. To add insult to injury I called in and the agent siad that they can see that they got paid but the computer takes time to update/reconcille I guess! It is a slow system!
Anonymous
There is a lot of advice on RECEIVING INHERITANCE in the UK from overseas but nothing on the rules for SENDING money gifts to grandchildren living OVERSEAS and the rules on Inheritance Tax in that case.
Anonymous
The service is decent, nothing more. I have had security issues that are not quickly resolved. Call center personnel are average. The app is not, in general, user friendly. You should definitely do research on a variety of service providers before making a choice. Do not take the reviews at face value. I chose Wise based on positive reviews but now regret not doing more research on other companies.
Anonymous
So far so good
Daniel
I checked to see if Wise even sends money to Colombia. Colombia is not even in their list of countries. Why is it even advertising for Colombia?
Bill Sanders
I have used Wise for several years. They once rejected a large transfer because it was to a coal company. Apparently, they are a woke company! But they refused to tell me why. More recently, they required verification of my identity using a smart phone. I am 69 and never owned a cell phone because I don't need one. But they forced me to buy one, which I did last week. Getting the phone updates ate up all my data, so i got 1 GB more. I took 12 different pics of my passport and another 12 of my face for them. They rejected them - and are holding up my transfer. Now my phone ate up that gig of data and I must buy another gig (thru Tracfone) just to use the phone. What a hassle. This is not a photo studio! They know who i am already. Note: This comment has been edited by the MoneyTransfers.com team to align with our content guidelines.
Ziggy Meilus
It used to be always instant, now it may come right away or it can take 5 even 7 days to get the money.
Anonymous
i've heard of people having issues with accounts being locked/restricted, but i think that was mostly for business accounts, maybe they were locked for good reason. for me, i've had no issue with my account though i've only used it for small transfers and not very often, over the past 5+ years
What does an IBAN look like?
Every country using IBANs will issue the same length codes, but the number of total characters in an IBAN varies by country.
- Country Code:
- GB
- Check Number:
- 33
- Bank Identifier:
- BUKB
- Sort Code:
- 202015
- Account Number:
- 55555555
Format of an IBAN
As per the example, each part of an IBAN should follow this format.
Country
A-ZThe country that the bank account is held in - this is generally the universal country code.
Check Digits
0-9This enables the sending bank to perform a security check of the routing destination.
Bank Identifier
A-Z 0-9This code identifies the recipient account holder’s bank.
Sort/Bank Code
0-9The sort/bank code for the bank transfer.
Account Number
0-9The account number for the bank transfer.
A virtual IBAN lets you make and receive international payments as a local. Virtual IBANs are like "add-ons" to your main account, but for a specific location.
We recommend using Wise Business if you need a virtual IBAN. It offers:
10 Local accounts
Low transfer fees (sending fees from 0.33%)
Very simple & intuitive app
Wise Business has a one-time setup fee, which is cheaper than many other alternatives.
What does a BIC code look like?
BIC is an acronym for Business Identifier Code, and it is used to identify the bank related to the account. Also known as a SWIFT (the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) code, the two terms are used interchangeably.
- SWIFT code (8 characters)
- SMCOGB2L
- Bank Code
- SMCO
- Country Code
- GB
- Location Code
- 2L
- Branch Code
- XXX
Format of a SWIFT/BIC code
A SWIFT/BIC is an 8-11 character code that identifies your country, city, bank, and branch.
Bank code
A-Z4 letters representing the bank. It usually looks like a shortened version of that bank's name.
Country code
A-Z2 characters made up of letters or numbers. It says where that bank's head office is.
Location code
A-Z 0-92 characters made up of letters or numbers. It says where that bank's head office is.
Branch code
A-Z 0-93 digits specifying a particular branch. 'XXX' represents the bank’s head office.
As a component of the SWIFT network, which has existed for over 40 years, BIC codes provide a secure way for banks to communicate between themselves across the world.
Will I ever need both an IBAN and a BIC?
BIC codes existed before IBANs were developed and countries that recognize the IBAN system will likely ask for both codes when processing a transaction in a foreign currency.
Every country within the European Union (EU) uses IBAN, so if you are making a Euro transfer you will need both IBAN and BIC
Other countries across Central and South America, Africa, and the Middle East have adopted the IBAN system and may request both an IBAN and BIC
Canada does not use IBANs, instead processing international money transfers using their systems. The United States however does use IBANs to process international payments.
Any reputable service provider, like the ones listed in our top 10 money transfer companies, will let you know the specific bank details which are needed, to guarantee your global remittance is safely and securely processed.
Finding BIC using IBAN
An IBAN contains a bank code but this is not branch-specific information which means it is not possible to extract a BIC code from an IBAN. This is because a bank code will vary based on each individual account.
However, wherever you find your IBAN, you will also find your BIC or SWIFT code stated in the same place. This information can be found via the following:
Check bank documents: Often, the BIC is listed on bank statements, account opening documents, or other communications from the bank.
Bank's website or online banking: Many banks provide a tool or information on their website where you can enter your IBAN to retrieve the BIC. Log into your online banking portal and check the account details section.
IBAN calculator tools: Several online tools and websites offer IBAN to BIC conversion services. Simply enter the IBAN, and the tool will provide the corresponding BIC. Examples include:
Contact your bank: If you can't find the BIC using the methods above, contact your bank directly. Customer service should be able to provide you with the BIC.
Bank directory services: Some websites and databases compile bank information, including BICs, which you can search by entering the IBAN.
How to send money with IBAN and BIC codes?
Once you have both codes, the most common way is to use the bank transfer through your bank. Log in to your online banking, initiate the transfer (varies by bank), enter the transfer details (along with IBAN and BIC / Swift code), review, and send.
However, banks often charge higher fees for international transfers and add a markup to the exchange rate. An alternative is to use a money transfer provider. Money transfer companies are much cheaper while remaining just as quick and easy as banks.
Use the form below to find a better alternative for your needs.
Find a better alternative to bank transfers
A bit more on IBANs and BIC codes
Where can I find my IBAN?
Usually, you can find the IBAN code in your bank statement, online banking, or mobile banking accounts, by visiting or calling the branch, and in your checkbook (sometimes).
Where to find IBAN and BIC number on check?
Some personal checks will have IBAN and BIC codes printed along with your bank details and personal information in the checkbook.
Help & FAQ
Get answers to the most common questions asked when sending money abroad. Covers costs, fees and the best way to compare.
Let's recap: can you convert IBAN to BIC?
Since IBAN does not contain brach-specific information, it's impossible to extract a BIC code from an IBAN. In case you do need it, you can find SWIFT/BIC codes in the same places you find IBAN. IBAN is a type of identification code used by banks and financial institutions while a SWIFT/BIC simply identifies the bank that an account is held with.
If you're looking for a BIC code to send money abroad, there's a cheaper alternative to bank transfers, we suggest you use the form below to find the best provider to suit your needs.
Find cheaper alternative to bank transfers
Sources and further reading
How to Find Your IBAN Through Your Account Number
If you know your IBAN, finding your account number will be very straightforward. The account number is the last 8-digits of your IBAN, and will be the same as the account number associated with whatever account is receiving funds, like so:
IBAN vs Routing number
Here's a quick summary of the main differences between IBAN and the routing number:
IBAN vs Account Number
Made up of alphanumeric characters, an IBAN can be no more than 34 characters long. Here's how it looks:
SWIFT vs IBAN: What's The Difference?
Here's a list of places where you can find:
How to find sort code from IBAN
A sort code is made up of six digits, split into three, often hyphenated pairs. The first pair is typically used to identify banks, and the remaining four digits identify which branch of the bank it is. A sort code may appear in the following formats: 202015 or 20-20-15. You can find sort code from IBAN by looking at the 9th to 14th digit of the code.
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