BankCodeKit

IBAN country format

Germany IBAN Format, Length and German Example

A German IBAN is 22 characters: DE and 2 international check digits, followed by an 8-digit BLZ bank identifier and a 10-digit account number.

Use this guide to understand the IBAN country code for Germany, its 22-character length, and example formatting. The DE value below is a labeled German format sample and must not be treated as a confirmed bank account.

Written and maintained by BankCodeKit. Page copy reviewed: .

Where the BLZ and account number sit

The DE diagram separates the country and international check fields from the eight-digit Bankleitzahl and ten-digit account number.

Where the BLZ and account number sit The DE diagram separates the country and international check fields from the eight-digit Bankleitzahl and ten-digit account number. Synthetic example not obtained from or verified against a real account. 1 DE 1-2 2 89 3-4 3 37040044 5-12 4 0532013000 13-22
  • 1. Country code 1-2; 2 letters
  • 2. International check digits 3-4; 2 digits
  • 3. Bank identifier 5-12; 8 digits
  • 4. Account number 13-22; 10 digits

Synthetic DE example, not verified against a real account. The Germany blocks explain published character positions; they are not a live institution or account lookup.

Key Germany IBAN details

Country
Germany
Country code
DE
IBAN length
22 characters
Print format
DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00
SEPA status
SEPA country - EU
BBAN structure
Germany: 18 digits after the country code and check digits.
Does not prove
Real account, owner, bank reachability, or payment success

A matching checksum can still hide an invalid BLZ format

The constructed test value DE23TEST00000000000000 has a matching international checksum, but letters at positions 5-8 violate the numeric BLZ field. The checker reports the structure failure separately; it does not identify a real bank from the BLZ.

Run the German structure-failure case

How the Bankleitzahl maps into a German IBAN

The Swift IBAN Registry pattern for this published format is DE2!n8!n10!n. The table for Germany maps each published segment to the DE89370400440532013000 example/test value.

Germany IBAN positions and example segments
Part Positions Swift pattern Example segment
Country code 1-2 2 letters DE
International check digits 3-4 2 digits 89
Bank identifier 5-12 8 digits 37040044
Account number 13-22 10 digits 0532013000

This DE breakdown describes visible positions; it does not turn the embedded bank or routing fields into a live German institution lookup.

Reading DE89 from print to digital form

The synthetic/test DE value demonstrates the published German layout. Preserve its label and never treat the sample as a recipient's real payment instruction.

Example/test IBAN
DE89370400440532013000
Print format example
DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00
Digital format example
DE89370400440532013000

The 18-digit German BBAN after DE89

  • The value starts with DE, the IBAN country code for Germany.
  • The next two characters are international check digits.
  • For Germany, the remaining 18 characters form the country-specific BBAN section: 18 digits after the country code and check digits.
  • German IBANs are short enough to scan in invoice text, but the 18-digit BBAN part should not be split or retyped from memory.
  • The example shows a DE country code, two check digits, and a numeric BBAN that remains the same in print and digital formats once spaces are removed.

BLZ and fixed-width account fields in Germany

Germany uses a 22-character IBAN. After the DE country code and two international check digits, the Swift IBAN Registry describes an 18-digit BBAN made from the eight-digit German bank sort code, the Bankleitzahl (BLZ), followed by a ten-digit account number. That fixed numeric pattern is useful when reading a German invoice: letters inside the BBAN are not expected, and the BLZ remains part of the IBAN rather than being removed as a separate field. Spaces in the print version are presentation only and do not change those positions.

A practical review should compare the complete print value with the compact digital value before checking MOD97-10. For Germany, the compact value must still contain all 22 characters, including any leading zero in the account section. Copying from a PDF can lose a digit at a line break, while manual retyping can transpose two neighboring digits. The checksum catches many such changes, but a passing result only shows that the visible value is consistent with the German format and checksum rules.

Keep the German IBAN separate from a BIC, invoice number, customer number, and payment reference. Those items can appear beside one another on payment instructions but serve different purposes. If an invoice was unexpected, the beneficiary name changed, or the account details were sent through a new channel, confirm them independently with the issuer or recipient. BankCodeKit does not query a German bank or account directory, so it cannot establish that the bank is reachable, the account exists, or the named payee controls it.

Removing spaces without dropping a leading zero

Compare the grouped invoice-style value used for Germany with the compact DE input produced after presentation spaces are removed.

Input shown on page
DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00
Normalized digital value
DE89370400440532013000
Expected length
22 characters
Result interpretation
A passing DE result means the visible value matched supported German structure and MOD97 rules, not that the account or payee was verified.

What MOD97 can test in the DE value

  • Whether the IBAN starts with the DE country code.
  • Whether the IBAN has 22 characters after normalization.
  • Whether the value uses allowed letters and digits.
  • Whether the MOD97-10 checksum is valid.

Leading zeros and German invoice-copy errors

  • Dropping one digit from the long numeric BBAN when copying from an invoice.
  • Treating a passed checksum as proof that the German account belongs to the named payee.

Continue the German payment-code review

When a DE structure reference helps

  • Checking whether a German invoice IBAN has the expected 22-character structure before using the IBAN Checker.
  • Comparing a spaced invoice value with the compact digital value required by many payment forms.
  • Use the IBAN Checker after this country reference for Germany when you need a local MOD97 result for one DE value.

Germany in the SEPA country reference

For Germany, the local SEPA country reference is: SEPA country - EU. The DE entry provides geographical scope only; participation by a particular German bank or account must be confirmed separately.

Questions about DE length, spacing, and scope

How is an IBAN in Germany structured?

A German IBAN has 22 characters, including the DE country code and two check digits.

What country code does a German IBAN use?

German IBANs use the country code DE.

Does a valid German IBAN confirm the account exists?

No. Format and checksum checks do not confirm account existence or ownership.

Can spaces be used when typing a German IBAN?

Yes. Spaces are common in print format and should be removed for digital processing.

Germany sources and update note

Public references for German IBAN structure and national fields are linked below; detailed standard scope, review methods, and licensing boundaries are documented on the Sources and Updates page.

Scope and limitations.

IBAN lengths, 15 national patterns and examples. Reference data reviewed: 2026-10-01. Next scheduled data review: 2027-01-01. BIC visible-format references. Reference data reviewed: 2026-07-17. Next scheduled data review: 2026-10-17. SEPA geographical scope and currency reference. Reference data reviewed: 2026-10-01. Next scheduled data review: 2027-01-01. Additional source links verified: 2026-08-15. Sources: Swift IBAN Registry, European Payments Council SEPA scheme countries list, Deutsche Bundesbank - Bank sort codes Reference data is reviewed periodically. BankCodeKit does not perform live bank, account, sanctions, or payment-network confirmation.