IBAN vs Routing Number: What Matters

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It's a standardized format that identifies a specific account at a specific bank in a specific country.

The format starts with a two-letter country code, then two check digits, then the bank and account details. The check digits help catch typos before a transfer fails.

IBANs range from 15 to 34 characters depending on the country. German IBANs have 22 characters. Spanish IBANs have 24. This is normal—the standard allows for variation.

Routing numbers identify banks rather than accounts. In the US, they're nine digits. Each bank location may have a different routing number.

You need both the routing number and the account number to complete a US transfer. The routing number finds the bank. The account number finds your specific account.

Canada uses similar transit numbers. Other countries have their own domestic systems. These work well locally but add complexity for international transfers.

SWIFT codes (also called BIC codes) identify banks in the global network. They're 8 or 11 characters. The extra three characters identify a specific branch.

International transfers from non-IBAN countries typically need the SWIFT code plus local account details. IBAN-to-IBAN transfers may still require SWIFT codes depending on the banks involved.

Some transfer services handle SWIFT lookups automatically. Others require you to provide it. Check what your specific service needs.

Banks often reject transfers rather than guessing at corrections. The money returns to sender, but this can take days and may incur fees.

Bank statements show account numbers, but not always in the format needed for incoming transfers. Online banking often has a dedicated section for receiving transfers.

For IBAN countries, banks can generate your IBAN from domestic account details. Most online banking platforms display it directly.

For US accounts, routing numbers appear on checks and in online banking settings. The routing number for wire transfers may differ from the one for ACH transfers—verify which applies.

Sending from a US account to a European account requires US routing details on one end and IBAN on the other. The transfer service handles the conversion between systems.

Some services simplify this by only asking for what they need. Others require full details from both sides. The experience depends on which service you use.

Multi-currency accounts often provide details in multiple formats. This makes receiving transfers easier but adds complexity when setting up.