IBANFormatierung

The IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardized international numbering system used to identify bank accounts across borders. It consists of a country code, two check digits, and a Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN) that varies in length and structure from one country to another. The purpose of the IBAN is to reduce errors and increase the speed of cross‑border payments by providing a uniform format.

IBANFormatierung refers specifically to the correct formation and presentation of an IBAN. A valid IBAN follows the pattern: CCkkBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB, where CC is the two‑letter ISO 3166‑1 country code, kk are numeric check digits calculated using a modulus-97 algorithm, and the BB part is the country‑specific BBAN. The total length of the IBAN is fixed per country, ranging from 15 to 34 alphanumeric characters. For example, a German IBAN begins with DE, followed by two check digits, and a 18‑digit BBAN that includes a bank code and an account number. The check digits are derived by moving the country code and check digits to the end of the number, replacing letters with numbers (A=10, B=11, …, Z=35), and computing the remainder when divided by 97; the IBAN is valid if the remainder equals 1.

When formatting an IBAN for display, the characters are conventionally grouped into blocks of four digits separated by spaces. This improves readability and reduces the chance of transposition errors. A correctly formatted IBAN looks like: DE44 5001 0517 5407 3249 31. Some applications require the removal of spaces for electronic transmission, but the spaced version is accepted as standard in many banking systems. Correct IBAN formatting is mandatory for automated processing, compliance with anti‑money‑laundering regulations, and ensuring that electronic funds transfers are routed correctly.