Validate one IBAN or a list
Paste IBANs or old Belgian account numbers, one per line. Each line is checked, cleaned up into the standard printed format and, for Belgian accounts, matched to the bank and BIC. Spaces and lower case are ignored. Results can be downloaded as CSV. Everything is checked on your device, using the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) list of bank identification codes as bundled data.
Two separate checks for Belgian IBANs
- The IBAN check digits. Every IBAN has two check digits after the country code. They are verified with the ISO 13616 mod-97 rule, which catches almost all typing errors in any country.
- The Belgian account number check. A Belgian IBAN is
BE, two check digits and 12 digits, 16 characters in total. Those 12 digits are the old account number: three bank digits, seven account digits and two check digits. The first 10 digits modulo 97 must equal the last two (97 when the remainder is 0). Both checks are applied.
Worked example
The IBAN BE68 5390 0754 7034 is the standard example found in IBAN documentation. It passes both checks: the IBAN check digits (68) and the account check, where 5390075470 modulo 97 equals 34. The old account format is 539-0075470-34. The bank code 539 is listed as unavailable in the NBB list, which is why an example like this is safe to publish, and it must never be used for a real payment.
Bank code and BIC
The first three digits of the Belgian account number are the bank identification code assigned by the NBB. The checker looks this code up in the NBB list, shows the bank and its BIC, and states the version of the list used. A BIC is not needed for SEPA payments between EU accounts, but some systems still ask for it. Keep in mind that an account may have moved to another bank after a merger, so the code shows the institution that the number range belongs to. To browse the whole list use the Belgian bank codes tool.
Old account numbers
Account numbers written as 123-4567890-12 are converted to IBAN automatically. This is useful when you receive a customer record or an old invoice that predates IBAN.
What a valid result means
A valid IBAN is correctly formed. It does not prove that the account is open, that it belongs to the person or company you expect, or that a payment will be accepted. For payment files and reconciliation continue with the SEPA payment batch builder or the CAMT viewer. Structured references for the payment can be created with the OGM generator.
Frequently asked questions
How is an IBAN validated?
The country code and the two check digits are moved to the end, letters are converted to numbers, and the result must leave remainder 1 when divided by 97. This is the ISO 13616 mod-97 rule.
How long is a Belgian IBAN?
A Belgian IBAN has 16 characters: BE, two check digits and the 12-digit account number. It is usually printed in four groups of four.
How do I convert an old Belgian account number to IBAN?
Paste the number in the form 123-4567890-12. The checker converts it to an IBAN automatically, calculating the two IBAN check digits.
Do I need the BIC for a SEPA payment?
Not for SEPA payments between EU accounts. Some systems still ask for it, so the checker shows the BIC of the Belgian bank when it is known.
Does a valid IBAN mean the account exists?
No. It only means the IBAN is correctly formed. Only the bank can confirm that an account exists and who owns it.