IBAN country format
UK IBAN Format, Length and United Kingdom Example
Use this guide to understand the IBAN country code for United Kingdom, its 22-character length, and example formatting. The GB value shown below remains clearly marked as an example/test IBAN rather than a confirmed bank account.
An IBAN in the UK starts with GB, contains 22 characters, and incorporates a bank code, sort code, and domestic account number.
Key United Kingdom IBAN details
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Country code
- GB
- IBAN length
- 22 characters
- Print format
- GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19
- SEPA status
- SEPA country - Non-EEA
- BBAN structure
- 18 BBAN characters after the country code and check digits.
- Does not prove
- Real account, owner, bank reachability, or payment success
Sort codes and account numbers inside a UK IBAN
The Swift IBAN Registry pattern for this published format is GB2!n4!a6!n8!n.
The United Kingdom table maps each published segment to the
GB29NWBK60161331926819 example/test value.
| Part | Positions | Swift pattern | Example segment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country code | 1-2 | 2 letters | GB |
| International check digits | 3-4 | 2 digits | 29 |
| Bank identifier | 5-8 | 4 letters | NWBK |
| Sort code | 9-14 | 6 digits | 601613 |
| Account number | 15-22 | 8 digits | 31926819 |
This GB breakdown describes visible positions; it does not turn the embedded bank or routing fields into a live United Kingdom institution lookup.
NWBK, the six-digit sort code, and the account field
The GB diagram separates the four-letter bank identifier, six-digit sort code, and eight-digit domestic account field.
- 1. Country code 1-2; 2 letters
- 2. International check digits 3-4; 2 digits
- 3. Bank identifier 5-8; 4 letters
- 4. Sort code 9-14; 6 digits
- 5. Account number 15-22; 8 digits
Synthetic example, not a real account. The blocks show character positions only and do not identify a live bank or account.
From grouped GB29 text to a 22-character value
The synthetic/test GB value demonstrates the published United Kingdom layout. Preserve its label and never treat the sample as a recipient's real payment instruction.
- Example/test IBAN
- GB29NWBK60161331926819
- Print format example
- GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19
- Digital format example
- GB29NWBK60161331926819
The relationship between a UK IBAN and domestic details
The United Kingdom uses a 22-character IBAN beginning with GB, not UK. The Swift IBAN Registry describes its 18-character BBAN as a four-letter bank identifier, a six-digit branch identifier corresponding to the domestic routing block, and an eight-digit account number. All three parts are included in the international value. A domestic sort code and account number shown separately on a UK invoice are not, by themselves, a complete IBAN, and the four bank letters must not be removed.
When a form specifically asks for an IBAN, compare the full GB value rather than constructing one from domestic details. Remove print spaces only, keep leading zeroes in the six- and eight-digit blocks, and confirm the final digital value has 22 characters. Common errors include entering UK as the country prefix, pasting only the domestic account number, or treating the four-letter bank identifier as a BIC. MOD97-10 can review the supplied international value but cannot generate authoritative payment instructions from partial fields.
The Registry notes technical country-code coverage that includes the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey, while provider rules and payment routes can still differ. BankCodeKit does not check a UK bank directory, Faster Payments, CHAPS, Swift connectivity, or account ownership. Review a BIC separately if the provider requests one. Before relying on changed invoice details, confirm the beneficiary and transfer requirements with the recipient or bank through a known channel. A format pass does not establish that the account is reachable or appropriate for the intended payment.
How domestic UK fields appear in international form
- The value starts with GB, the IBAN country code for United Kingdom.
- The next two characters are international check digits.
- The remaining 18 characters are the country-specific BBAN section: 18 BBAN characters after the country code and check digits.
- UK IBANs use the GB country code and include a BBAN section that is different from a domestic UK sort code plus account number display.
- The NWBK letters in the example are part of the IBAN value and remain present in digital format.
Keeping NWBK and the sort code in place
For United Kingdom, compare the grouped invoice-style value with the compact GB input produced after presentation spaces are removed.
- Input shown on page
- GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19
- Normalized digital value
- GB29NWBK60161331926819
- Expected length
- 22 characters
- Result interpretation
- A passing GB result means the visible value matched supported United Kingdom structure and MOD97 rules, not that the account or payee was verified.
What a GB checksum pass cannot establish
- Whether the IBAN starts with the GB 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.
Review UK account and institution codes separately
- Check this GB IBAN locally for country, length, characters, and MOD97 result only.
- Review United Kingdom's SEPA country entry as reference context, not bank or account readiness.
- Compare the IBAN with a separate BIC/SWIFT code when a United Kingdom invoice supplies both values.
Using only an account number when an IBAN is requested
- Using only a domestic UK account number where an international IBAN is required.
- Removing the bank-code letters from the GB IBAN before checking the format.
United Kingdom country scope in SEPA data
For United Kingdom, the local SEPA country reference is: SEPA country - Non-EEA. This United Kingdom country-level entry does not establish scheme support for a particular bank or account.
Non-EU/EEA SEPA country. SEPA participation does not mean EU or EEA payment rules apply.
Choosing between UK domestic and IBAN references
- Comparing the 22-character GB format with a payment form that asks for international rather than domestic UK details.
- Checking whether an international payment form is asking for an IBAN rather than only UK domestic account details.
- Use the IBAN Checker after this United Kingdom reference when you need a local MOD97 result for one GB value.
Questions about GB, sort codes, and BIC requirements
How is an IBAN in the UK structured?
A UK IBAN has 22 characters.
Is a UK bank account number the same as a UK IBAN?
No. Domestic UK bank account numbers are separate from IBAN format. A UK IBAN is the international format that starts with GB and has 22 characters.
What country code does a UK IBAN use?
United Kingdom IBANs use the country code GB.
Is the UK in SEPA?
The United Kingdom appears in SEPA country-scope reference data, but that country-level status does not confirm a specific bank, account, provider workflow, or payment success.
Do UK payments always need a BIC?
Not always. BIC/SWIFT requirements depend on the bank, payment provider, currency, and transfer route. Confirm real payment requirements before sending money.
Can UK IBANs include letters?
Yes. The BBAN can include a bank code made from letters.
Does a passed UK IBAN format check confirm payment success?
No. It only indicates that the format and checksum pass supported checks.
United Kingdom sources and update note
BankCodeKit keeps payment-code checks browser-local and uses local reference data for format and country information. Local IBAN data was reviewed 2026-07-17 against Swift IBAN Registry Release 102 - Jun 2026. Official public source pages are used for reference, but BankCodeKit does not perform live bank, account, sanctions, or payment-network confirmation.
- Swift IBAN Registry Reference information for IBAN structure, country support, and format rules. Local IBAN data reviewed 2026-07-17 against Swift IBAN Registry Release 102 - Jun 2026.
- Swift BIC / ISO 9362 information Reference information for visible Business Identifier Code structure and usage context.
- European Payments Council SEPA scheme countries list Reference information for countries and territories in SEPA scheme scope. Local data reviewed 2026-07-17 against EPC List of SEPA Scheme Countries v8.0, issued 2025-12-24.
Format checks only. This page does not confirm account existence, ownership, bank reachability, or payment success. Read the detailed disclaimer.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-17 Sources: Swift IBAN Registry, European Payments Council SEPA scheme countries list Reference data is reviewed periodically. BankCodeKit does not perform live bank, account, sanctions, or payment-network confirmation.