What is an IBAN?
An IBAN is up to 34 characters long and contains three pieces of information:
Country code (2 letters): identifies which country the account is in. GB for the United Kingdom, DE for Germany, FR for France.
Check digits (2 numbers): a validation code that lets banks automatically detect most formatting errors.
Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN): your bank's identifier and your specific account number.
IBANs are required for international wire transfers, especially within Europe. They tell the receiving bank exactly which account to credit, reducing errors and delays.
IBAN Format by Country
Country | IBAN length | Used for | Notes |
United Kingdom | 22 characters | GBP domestic and international | Grey GBP accounts come with an IBAN |
Germany | 22 characters | EUR SEPA transfers | Standard across EU |
France | 27 characters | EUR SEPA transfers | Standard across EU |
Netherlands | 18 characters | EUR SEPA transfers | Standard across EU |
Nigeria | Not applicable | Domestic NGN transfers use NUBAN (10 digits) | Grey EUR accounts come with an IBAN for receiving SEPA payments |
United States | Not applicable | Uses routing number + account number | Grey USD accounts do not use IBANs |
When You Need Your Grey IBAN
You will need your IBAN when:
A European employer or client wants to pay your salary or invoice in EUR or GBP.
You are withdrawing from Payoneer, Wise, or another platform to your Grey GBP or EUR account.
A European freelance platform is paying your earnings via bank transfer.
You are receiving a bank transfer from a European bank.
A SEPA sender asks for your bank details to send euros.
For USD payments, you do not use an IBAN. Share your ACH routing number and account number instead.
What Information to Share With a SEPA Sender
For EUR payments via SEPA:
Your Grey IBAN (from your EUR wallet)
Grey's SWIFT/BIC code (shown in your EUR wallet account details)
Your full legal name as registered on Grey
For GBP payments within the UK:
Your Grey account number (from your GBP wallet)
Your Grey sort code (from your GBP wallet)
Your IBAN is also available if an international sender specifically requires it for GBP
How to Find Your IBAN on Grey
Open the Grey app.
Tap on your GBP or EUR wallet.
Tap Account Details.
Your IBAN is displayed alongside your sort code, SWIFT/BIC, and account number.
Always copy your IBAN directly from the Grey app. Manually typing it increases the risk of errors. A single incorrect character will cause the payment to fail. You can verify any IBAN using a free IBAN checker at iban.com before sharing it with a sender.
IBAN vs Account Number vs SWIFT Code
Identifier | What it identifies | Format | When to use it |
IBAN | Your specific account | Up to 34 characters, starts with country code | European and international payments |
Sort code | Your bank branch (UK) | 6 digits (XX-XX-XX) | UK domestic GBP transfers |
Account number | Your account at the bank | 8 digits (UK) | UK domestic GBP transfers |
SWIFT/BIC | The bank (not your account) | 8-11 characters | International wire transfers alongside IBAN |
ACH routing number | The US bank network route | 9 digits | US USD transfers |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IBAN?
An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardised number that identifies a specific bank account for international transfers. It combines your country code, check digits, and your actual account number into a single string that banks globally can recognise and route payments to.
Does Grey give you an IBAN?
Yes. Your Grey GBP and EUR accounts both come with an IBAN. You can find it in the Grey app by opening your GBP or EUR wallet and tapping Account Details. Note: while Nigerian bank accounts do not use IBANs, your Grey EUR account comes with an IBAN for receiving SEPA payments.
Is an IBAN the same as a SWIFT code?
No. An IBAN identifies your specific account. A SWIFT/BIC code identifies your bank. For European transfers, senders typically need both your IBAN for the account and Grey's SWIFT/BIC for the bank.
Is it safe to share my IBAN?
Yes. Sharing your IBAN only allows someone to send money to your account. It cannot be used to withdraw funds or access your account.
What happens if someone enters the wrong IBAN?
IBANs include check digits that catch most formatting errors automatically. However, if an incorrect but technically valid IBAN is entered, the payment may reach the wrong account. Always double-check your IBAN before sharing it with a sender. You can verify any IBAN using a free IBAN checker at iban.com.
Which countries use IBANs?
IBANs are standard across all European countries and are also used in parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caribbean. The US and Canada do not use IBANs. Nigeria uses NUBAN (10-digit account numbers) for domestic transfers, not IBANs. Your Grey EUR account comes with an IBAN for receiving payments from SEPA countries.
My GBP sender is asking for an IBAN. Do I have one?
Yes. Your Grey GBP account comes with an IBAN. Find it in the Grey app under your GBP wallet > Account Details. UK domestic transfers typically use sort code and account number, but if an international sender specifically needs a GBP IBAN, you can share yours.