An IBAN is the international code by which your current account can be uniquely identified worldwide. The abbreviation stands for International Bank Account Number, and thanks to its fixed structure, a transfer arrives at exactly the right account. Below you can see exactly what an IBAN means, how it is structured and where you can find your own IBAN.
What does the abbreviation IBAN stand for?
IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number, meaning an international bank account number. It is a globally agreed standard that makes your account recognisable across national borders, so that payments between different countries run smoothly. The standard is established in the ISO 13616 norm and was originally set up by the European banking sector.
Every current account in the Netherlands has an IBAN, including a business account for entrepreneurs. Your IBAN works as the address of your account: the number that others use to pay you and that you provide when you receive a transfer yourself.
The structure of an IBAN number
The structure of an IBAN number follows a fixed sequence of letters and numbers in every country. Four components always return, regardless of which bank the account is held with:
Country code: two letters indicating the country, such as NL for the Netherlands.
Check digit: two digits immediately following the country code used to detect typos.
Bank code: a code designating the bank, four letters for Dutch IBANs.
Account number: the actual number of the account, ten digits in the Netherlands.
Together, these parts form a single code that is read the same way all over the world. An example of a Dutch IBAN is NL91 ABNA 0417 1643 00, where NL is the country code, 91 is the check digit, ABNA is the bank code and 0417 1643 00 is the account number.
A Dutch IBAN has 18 characters
A Dutch IBAN always has 18 characters: the country code NL, two check digits, a bank code of four letters and an account number of ten digits.
If the original account number is shorter, zeros are added at the front to bring it to ten digits. The bank code immediately shows you which bank the account belongs to, for example INGB, RABO or ABNA.
The check digit in an IBAN prevents typos
The check digit in an IBAN prevents typos because it is mathematically related to the rest of the number. Those two digits are calculated using a fixed formula (the so-called modulo 97 check).
This allows a bank to see immediately whether an IBAN is mathematically correct. If you accidentally transpose two numbers, the number will almost always fail that check.
Is an IBAN the same as your account number?
An IBAN is not the same as your account number, but it does contain it. Your old account number forms the last part of your IBAN, preceded by the country code, a check digit and the bank code. These extra characters turn a local account number into an internationally recognisable code.
In the past, you only used that short account number in the Netherlands. Since 1 August 2014, the IBAN has been mandatory for all payments, as part of the European SEPA agreements. For daily transfers, you therefore always use the full IBAN, even though you can still recognise your own account number in it.
The difference between IBAN and BIC
The difference between an IBAN and a BIC is that an IBAN identifies an account and a BIC identifies a bank. The BIC, also known as a SWIFT code, consists of eight or eleven characters and identifies the bank within the international payment network. The two complement each other: the IBAN identifies the account, and the BIC identifies the bank where that account is held.
Within Europe, you usually only need an IBAN and the name of the recipient. You only need a BIC when you transfer money to an account outside the SEPA zone or in a currency other than the euro.
Where can I find my IBAN?
You can find your IBAN number in your online banking, in your bank's app, on your bank statement and on your debit card. In the app or online banking environment, it is usually located in the account details, ready to be copied.
If you receive a payment from abroad, you sometimes also need to provide your bank's BIC in addition to your IBAN. You can find someone else's IBAN on their invoice, or you can request it directly from the recipient. If you are unsure whether a number is correct, always check it before transferring any money.
For which countries do you need an IBAN?
For all countries within the Single Euro Payments Area you need an IBAN, or SEPA zone for short. There are 41 countries participating in SEPA, including all EU countries and a number of countries outside it such as Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Within this zone, you pay in euros using only an IBAN and the name of the recipient.
Outside of Europe, more and more countries are also using the IBAN system, such as Turkey, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. If you, as an entrepreneur, want to transfer money abroad, you should check in advance whether the country uses an IBAN and whether you also need a BIC.
Is it safe to share your IBAN?
Sharing your IBAN is safe enough for normal payment transactions: with just your IBAN, no one can withdraw money from your account. An extra confirmation is always required for a transfer or a direct debit, such as logging into your banking environment or a valid mandate issued by you.
Nevertheless, caution is advised. Fraudsters can abuse an IBAN by sending fake invoices with their own number on them, hoping that you will pay without realizing. Therefore, only provide your IBAN to parties you trust and, in case of doubt, always check whether an invoice is genuine.
The IBAN-Name Check against invoice fraud
The IBAN-Name Check protects against invoice fraud by verifying whether the recipient's name and IBAN match. Since 9 October 2025, this check has been mandatory in all 41 SEPA countries for every digital euro transfer. Internationally, the check is known as Verification of Payee, part of the European Instant Payments Regulation.
If you enter a name and IBAN in your banking environment that do not match, you will receive a warning before the payment is finalised. If they do match, you will see a confirmation. Especially for entrepreneurs who pay many invoices, this reduces the risk of sending money to an incorrect or fraudulent account.
A business account with a Dutch IBAN
With a business account from GoDutch, you get a Dutch IBAN starting with NL, just as you expect for your business transactions. You can apply for the account in 3 minutes and have your IBAN and Mastercard within 1 day, without any hassle beforehand.
In addition to your main IBAN, you can create extra virtual IBANs yourself to keep income and projects separate. You can arrange payments abroad from the same app, and thanks to built-in fraud prevention with the IBAN Name Check, you pay with more security. If something gets stuck, a real person is ready to help you 24/7.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about IBAN numbers
Are all IBANs the same length?
No, IBAN numbers are not the same length everywhere: the length varies by country. A Dutch IBAN has 18 characters, a German IBAN 22 characters, and worldwide an IBAN can be up to 34 characters. The country code and the check digit at the beginning are, however, always structured in the same way.
How do I check if an IBAN number is correct?
You can check an IBAN number using the built-in check digits or with an online IBAN checker. Thanks to the check digit, a system can immediately see if an IBAN is mathematically correct, which catches most typing errors. To be absolutely sure that the number belongs to the correct recipient, you should check it with the person or the company itself.
What is a virtual IBAN?
A virtual IBAN is an additional IBAN linked to your existing account, without having to open a new account. Entrepreneurs use virtual IBANs to receive payments separately per customer, project or brand. The money ultimately ends up in the same underlying account.
Do I need an IBAN for a business account?
For a business account, you automatically have an IBAN, because every current account in the Netherlands is assigned one. You use that IBAN to receive business payments and pay invoices, just like with a personal account. This way, you keep your business finances separate from your personal ones, with its own number.
What happens in the event of an incorrect IBAN?
If you enter an incorrect IBAN, your payment is usually not processed or the amount is returned to your account. The check digit catches most typing errors, and since the introduction of the IBAN-Name Check, your bank also warns you if the name and the IBAN do not match. If you notice an error, contact your bank immediately.
Why does a Dutch IBAN start with NL?
A Dutch IBAN starts with NL because that is the fixed country code for the Netherlands. Each country has its own two-letter code in the IBAN according to an international standard, making it immediately clear in which country the account is held. For example, a Belgian IBAN starts with BE and a German IBAN with DE.
