UK IBAN explained: format, where to find it, and when you need it
Inside the UK, people pay you with a sort code and account number. From abroad, they need your IBAN, which is the same account written in an international format: GB, two check digits, four letters for the bank, then the sort code and account number.
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When a client abroad asks for your "IBAN and BIC", they want the same UK account you already have, written in the international format. This guide shows how it relates to your sort code and account number, and when to use each.
What does a UK IBAN look like?
A UK IBAN is always 22 characters:
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Country code | GB | United Kingdom |
| Check digits | 29 | Validate the rest of the IBAN |
| Bank code | NWBK | Four letters for the bank, taken from its BIC |
| Sort code | 601613 | Your six-digit sort code |
| Account number | 31926819 | Your eight-digit account number |
Put together: GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19. That example is the standard illustration used in the IBAN registry, not a real account. The check digits are calculated from the rest, so a single wrong digit usually makes the IBAN fail validation before the payment is sent.
When do you use the IBAN instead of the sort code?
| Payer | Give them |
|---|---|
| UK bank account, paying GBP | Sort code and account number |
| EU or other foreign bank | IBAN and BIC |
| International payroll or marketplace | IBAN and BIC, plus the account name |
| SEPA payment in euros | IBAN of a EUR account, ideally |
UK banks ignore the IBAN for domestic payments and use the sort code and account number. Foreign banks need the IBAN to route a SWIFT or SEPA payment to the right UK account.
Where do you find your IBAN?
In your banking app or online banking under account details, on paper statements, or by asking the bank. Most UK banks also have an IBAN lookup on their website. Use the version your bank shows you rather than building it yourself.
What is the BIC?
The BIC, also called the SWIFT code, identifies the bank and sometimes the branch. It is 8 or 11 characters, such as NWBKGB2L. A foreign payer usually needs both the IBAN and the BIC. Our article on what a SWIFT code is explains how BICs are built.
Does an IBAN decide the currency?
No. A UK GBP account has an IBAN, but it holds pounds. If a client in Germany sends euros to your GBP IBAN, your bank converts them on arrival at its own rate, often with a margin of 2% or more, and sometimes a receiving fee. If you get paid in euros regularly, a EUR account with its own IBAN avoids that. See virtual IBANs explained for how many providers issue them.
Common IBAN mistakes on invoices
- Spaces or no spaces: both are fine, but copy it exactly.
- Missing the account name: Confirmation of Payee in the UK and Verification of Payee in the euro area check the name.
- Giving a GBP IBAN for a euro invoice, which forces a conversion.
- Old details after switching banks. Update every client and platform.
IBANs with Rivet
On Rivet's Growth plan, registered companies get GBP details with a sort code and account number for UK payers, and EUR details with an IBAN in the company's name for SEPA payers. Both sit in one account with USD, so each client pays in its own currency.
Questions people ask
Do UK bank accounts have an IBAN?
Yes. Every UK current account has an IBAN, even if you never see it. It is the international version of the same sort code and account number.
Can I work out my IBAN from my sort code and account number?
The structure includes both, but the check digits and bank code have to be right. Use the IBAN shown by your bank, not one you build by hand.
Is the BIC the same as a SWIFT code?
Yes. BIC (Business Identifier Code) and SWIFT code mean the same thing. It identifies the bank, not your account, and is 8 or 11 characters.
Can someone take money from my account with my IBAN?
Giving out an IBAN is similar to giving out a sort code and account number. It lets people pay you. Direct Debits need a signed mandate, and any unauthorised debit can be reclaimed, but treat bank details as you would any personal information.
Sources
Rashidatou writes Rivet's guides to how money moves between countries: the payment rails, what each one costs, and the account details a company needs to get paid in another currency. Every figure in Rashidatou's articles is traced to the scheme rulebook, the regulator or the provider's published price list, and those sources are listed at the end.
More from Rashidatou K. →This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; check the sources above and the provider’s current terms before you act on them.
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