IBAN checker
Paying abroad, or checking bank details someone sent you? Check the IBAN’s country, length and checksum in a second. It runs in your browser and nothing is sent to us.
A valid format does not confirm who owns the account. Before paying, use Confirmation of Payee in your banking app and confirm the details by phone on a number you already have.
What an IBAN check can tell you
An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) starts with a two-letter country code and two check digits, followed by the bank and account details in that country’s format. A UK IBAN has 22 characters: GB, the check digits, a four-letter bank code, the six-digit sort code and the eight-digit account number.
The check digits are calculated from the rest of the IBAN, so most typing mistakes, such as one wrong digit or two swapped digits, make the checksum fail. That is what this tool tests.
It cannot tell you who owns the account, whether it is open, or whether the details came from the person you think. Fraudsters send correctly formed IBANs for accounts they control.
Before you pay
- Confirm by phone. Call the person or firm on a number you already have, not one in the email or invoice.
- Use Confirmation of Payee. For UK payments your banking app checks the name against the account. Take “no match” or “close match” seriously.
- Be wary of changes. A message saying bank details have changed is the most common sign of payment diversion fraud.
- If money has gone, call your bank straight away, then report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
More in our guide: how to check a bank account before you pay.
Limits of this check
This is a format check only. It is not account verification, it is not identity verification, and it is not customer due diligence under the Money Laundering Regulations. Country lengths follow the IBAN registry; if a country changes its format, a valid IBAN could show as the wrong length until we update the tool.
IBAN checker questions
What does this IBAN checker test?
It checks that the IBAN starts with a known country code, has the right number of characters for that country, and passes the ISO 13616 checksum (the two check digits after the country code). For UK IBANs it also shows the bank code, sort code and account number inside it.
Does a valid result mean the account belongs to the right person?
No. A valid result means the IBAN is correctly formed and has no typing error the checksum can catch. It does not confirm who owns the account, whether it is open, or that it belongs to the firm you mean to pay. Use Confirmation of Payee in your banking app, and confirm bank details by phone on a number you already have.
Is anything I type sent to AML Buddy?
No. The check runs in your browser and the IBAN never leaves your device. We record only that the tool was used and whether the result was valid, and only if you accepted analytics cookies.
Do I need an IBAN to pay someone in the UK?
Usually not. For payments inside the UK, banks ask for the sort code and account number. IBANs are mainly used for international payments, or when someone abroad pays a UK account.
What should I do if bank details change by email?
Treat it as a warning sign. Do not pay until you have called the person or firm on a number you already have, not one in the email. If you think you have paid a fraudster, call your bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Is this identity verification or customer due diligence?
No. It is a quick format check of an IBAN. It does not verify anyone’s identity and does not replace the customer due diligence the Money Laundering Regulations require.
Check the client, not just the account
AML Buddy checks your client’s identity, sanctions and PEP status through one secure link and gives you a timestamped PDF report. £5.40 a check inc. VAT (£4.50 + VAT), 5 free checks to start, no subscription.