Kontonummer

Kontonummer is a bank account number used to identify a specific bank account within a financial institution. The term is common in several European languages, notably German, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, where it is spelled kontonummer. It serves as the primary identifier for domestic payments and settlements to a recipient's account.

Relation to international payments: Since the adoption of the IBAN standard in many countries, the kontonummer is typically included in an IBAN, or the IBAN is used instead of a local kontonummer for cross-border transfers. For international transfers, banks usually require an IBAN and may also require a SWIFT/BIC code to identify the bank.

Format and variation: The structure of a kontonummer varies by country and bank. Some systems use fixed-length numbers; others use a combination of digits and letters. In some places, a separate bank code or clearing number accompanies the kontonummer to route the payment internally. Therefore, there is no universal format for kontonummer; it is defined by national banking rules and the issuing bank.

Usage and security: Kontonummer is sensitive financial information. It should be kept private and only shared with trusted entities to receive payments or initiate transfers. When initiating a payment, additional data such as the recipient's name and the bank's name are commonly required to ensure correct routing.