IBAN vs Routing Number vs SWIFT Code — What's the Difference and When Do You Use Each?

Leon Haskin — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:16:02 +0000

If you've ever tried to send money internationally or set up a direct deposit, you've probably been asked for an IBAN, a routing number, or a SWIFT code — and had no idea which one applies to your situation. Here's a clear breakdown with free tools for each.
The Short Answer

IBAN — identifies a specific bank account internationally (mostly Europe and Middle East) → What is an IBAN?
Routing Number — identifies a specific bank within the US → What is a Routing Number?
SWIFT Code — identifies a specific bank globally for international wire transfers → What is a SWIFT Code?

They solve different problems. You often need more than one at the same time.

What is an IBAN?
An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardised format for identifying bank accounts across borders. It was created to make cross-border payments within Europe faster and less error-prone.
An IBAN looks like this: GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19
It contains:

Country code (2 letters) — GB for United Kingdom
Check digits (2 numbers) — used to validate the IBAN format
Domestic account details — the actual bank and account number formatted for that country

IBANs are used in 80+ countries, mostly in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. The US, Canada, and Australia do not use IBANs.
Free tools:
👉 Validate any IBAN instantly — IBAN Validator — supports 80+ countries, runs entirely in your browser
👉 Full guide — What is an IBAN? Complete Guide

What is a Routing Number?
A US ABA Routing Number is a 9-digit code that identifies a specific financial institution within the United States. Every US bank and credit union has at least one.
A routing number looks like this: 021000021 (JPMorgan Chase)
It is used for:

ACH transfers — direct deposits, bill payments, payroll
Wire transfers — domestic US bank-to-bank transfers
Check processing — printed at the bottom left of every US check

Routing numbers are US-only. If you're sending money internationally from the US, you'll need a SWIFT code alongside the routing number.
Free tools:
👉 Look up any US bank by routing number — ABA Routing Number Lookup — covers 19,500 US banks from the Federal Reserve directory
👉 Full guide — What is a Routing Number? Complete Guide

What is a SWIFT Code?
A SWIFT code (also called a BIC — Bank Identifier Code) is an 8 or 11 character code that uniquely identifies a bank anywhere in the world. It is the global standard for identifying banks in international wire transfers.
A SWIFT code looks like this: BARCGB22 (Barclays Bank, United Kingdom)
The structure:

4 letters — bank code (BARC = Barclays)
2 letters — country code (GB = United Kingdom)
2 characters — location code
3 characters (optional) — specific branch

SWIFT codes are used whenever money crosses borders — regardless of which country you're in.
Free tools:
👉 Look up any SWIFT / BIC code — SWIFT Code Lookup — 112,165 codes across 192 countries
👉 Full guide — What is a SWIFT Code? Complete Guide

What About UK Sort Codes?
If you're dealing with UK domestic transfers, you'll encounter sort codes — 6-digit codes formatted as XX-XX-XX that identify a specific UK bank and branch. Sort codes are used for Faster Payments, BACS Direct Debits, and CHAPS high-value transfers within the UK.
A sort code looks like this: 20-00-00 (Barclays)
Free tools:
👉 Validate and look up UK sort codes — UK Sort Code Lookup — covers 9,272 UK sort codes
👉 Full guide — What is a Sort Code? Complete Guide

What About BIN Numbers and Card Validation?
If you're a developer building payment systems, you'll also deal with BIN numbers — the first 6–8 digits of any card number that identify the issuing bank, card network, card type and country.
Free tools:
👉 BIN Checker — look up any BIN number instantly
👉 Credit Card Validator — validate card numbers using the Luhn algorithm
👉 Free BIN Lookup — no signup, no limits
👉 Visa BIN Checker · Mastercard BIN Lookup · Amex BIN Lookup · Discover BIN Lookup
👉 Full guide — What is a BIN Number? · How BIN Lookup Works

When Do You Need Each One?
Receiving a salary from a US employer (you're outside the US):
→ Give them your IBAN + your bank's SWIFT code
Sending money from the US to Europe:
→ You need the recipient's IBAN + their bank's SWIFT code
Setting up direct deposit with a US bank:
→ Routing number + account number
Paying an overseas supplier:
→ Their IBAN (if European) or account number + SWIFT code
Receiving a UK domestic bank transfer:
→ Sort code + account number
Processing a payment card online:
→ BIN lookup + card validation

All Free Tools in One Place
CardValidator Pro covers everything — free, no signup, no limits:
Banking tools:

IBAN Validator — 80+ countries
ABA Routing Number Lookup — 19,500 US banks
SWIFT Code Lookup — 112,165 codes, 192 countries
UK Sort Code Lookup — 9,272 UK sort codes

Card tools:

BIN Checker — all card networks
Credit Card Validator — Luhn algorithm
Free BIN Lookup — no registration
Visa BIN Checker · Mastercard · Amex · Discover · JCB · UnionPay · Diners Club

By region:

UK BIN Checker · US BIN Checker · Indian Bank BIN Checker

Learn:

What is a BIN Number?
What is an IBAN?
What is a SWIFT Code?
What is a Routing Number?
What is a Sort Code?
Visa Card Types · Mastercard Card Types
How BIN Lookup Works

Building a payment system or have a specific scenario you're unsure about? Drop it in the comments.

What is a BIN Number and How Does BIN Lookup Work?

Leon Haskin — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:29:49 +0000

If you've ever processed a payment or built anything fintech-related, you've probably come across the term BIN. Let me break it down practically — what it is, why it matters, and how to use it.
What is a BIN Number?
A BIN (Bank Identification Number) is the first 6 digits of any credit or debit card. It instantly identifies:

The card network (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.)
The issuing bank
The card type (credit, debit, prepaid)
The country of issue

👉 Deep dive: What is a BIN Number?
How Does a BIN Lookup Actually Work?
A BIN lookup matches those first 6 digits against a database of known BINs and returns card metadata in milliseconds — no transaction needed, no sensitive data exposed.
json{
"bin": "453212",
"brand": "VISA",
"type": "DEBIT",
"bank": "Chase",
"country": "United States"
}
👉 See exactly how it works: How BIN Lookup Works
Why Developers Use BIN Lookup

Fraud Detection A card issued in Germany but shipping to Pakistan? That's a flag. BIN lookup lets you catch mismatches before processing.
Payment Routing Route Amex cards to a different processor, or apply surcharges only to credit cards — not debit. BIN data makes this trivial.
Better UX at Checkout Auto-detect the card type and show the right logo the moment a user starts typing. No guessing.
Chargebacks Reduction Validate cards upfront. Dead BINs and prepaid cards on restricted products get caught before they cost you money. BIN Lookup by Card Network Different networks have different BIN ranges and card types. Here's what's supported:

Visa BIN Checker — includes Visa card types
Mastercard BIN Lookup — includes Mastercard card types
Amex BIN Lookup
Discover BIN Lookup
JCB BIN Lookup
UnionPay BIN Lookup
Diners Club BIN Lookup

Beyond BIN — Other Validation Tools You Need
If you're building payment infrastructure, BIN is just the start. You'll also need:

IBAN Validator — validate international bank account numbers → What is an IBAN?
ABA Routing Number Lookup — for US bank routing → What is a Routing Number?
UK Sort Code Lookup — for UK bank validation → What is a Sort Code?
SWIFT Code Lookup — for international wire transfers → What is a SWIFT Code?

Try It Free — No Signup
CardValidator Pro gives you free BIN lookup, card validation, IBAN checker, routing number lookup and more — all in one place. No API key needed to get started.

Building something with payment validation? Drop your questions in the comments.

DEV Community: Leon Haskin

IBAN vs Routing Number vs SWIFT Code — What's the Difference and When Do You Use Each?

What is a BIN Number and How Does BIN Lookup Work?