UK IBAN Format, Length and United Kingdom Example

How to read this United Kingdom IBAN

• 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.

Worked example

Use the example below to compare what an invoice might show with what a payment form or validator usually receives after spaces are removed.

Input shown on page

GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19

Normalized digital value

GB29NWBK60161331926819

Expected length

22 characters

Result interpretation

Passing format checks still does not confirm a real account, owner, bank reachability, or payment success.

What the format check reviews

• 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.

Common United Kingdom IBAN searches

• UK IBAN / IBAN UK: United Kingdom IBANs use country code GB and 22 characters.
• UK IBAN check: use the IBAN Checker to review country, length, characters, and checksum locally.
• How long are UK bank account numbers? Domestic UK account numbers are separate from IBAN format; this page covers UK IBAN format only.

Popular United Kingdom checks

• United Kingdom IBAN checksum check for country, length, characters, and MOD97 result only.
• United Kingdom SEPA status for country-level reference context, not bank or account readiness.
• Compare IBAN, BIC and SWIFT codes before using payment details from an invoice.

Common United Kingdom IBAN mistakes

• 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.

When this page is useful

• Answering searches such as UK IBAN, IBAN UK, and UK IBAN check with the exact GB length and example format.
• Checking whether an international payment form is asking for an IBAN rather than only UK domestic account details.
• Use the IBAN Checker after this page when you need a local checksum result for one value.

What it cannot confirm

• Format checks do not confirm that the account exists or belongs to the intended payee.
• They do not confirm bank reachability, payment readiness, or payment success.
• Use the detailed disclaimer for the full list of non-verified items.

United Kingdom SEPA context

The local SEPA country reference data lists this country as: SEPA country - Non-EEA. Country-level SEPA status does not confirm that a specific bank or account can receive a payment.

Non-EU/EEA SEPA country. SEPA participation does not mean EU or EEA payment rules apply.

Limitation note

This page explains IBAN format rules only. It is not a bank, account, sanctions, fraud-risk, or payment-network check.

Before using this IBAN format for payment

A structurally valid IBAN can still be wrong for a real transfer. Always verify payment details with the invoice issuer, recipient, bank, or payment provider before sending money.

FAQ

Last reviewed: 2026-06-28 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.