For those of you new to Spain, are you getting dizzy from all the different bank codes? IBAN, BIC, SWIFT… you have to enter a long string of them every time you make a transfer or set up a service, terrified of making a mistake and losing your money. I fell into a few traps myself when I first arrived, so today I’m drawing on my own experience to explain once and for all what these codes are all about.
What Exactly is an IBAN?
IBAN simply stands for International Bank Account Number. Think of it as your bank account’s “ID card” across Europe and even worldwide. Previously, every country had a different account format, which made transfers a huge hassle. The IBAN system standardized this, and for transfers within the SEPA zone, the IBAN is usually all you need.
A Spanish IBAN has a total of 24 characters and follows this structure:
ESXX XXXX XXXX XX XXXXXXXXXX
- ES: Represents the country code for Spain.
- XX: A two-digit check code, calculated by the banking system based on the rest of your account number to prevent errors.
- XXXX XXXX: These next 8 digits are crucial. The first 4 are the bank entity code, and the next 4 are the branch code. For example, CaixaBank is 2100, Santander is 0049, and BBVA is 0182.
- XX: Another two-digit check code.
- XXXXXXXXXX: These final 10 digits are your actual personal account number.
So, whenever someone asks for your IBAN, just send them the complete 24-character string starting with ‘ES’ from your banking app. Make sure every single character is correct!
How to Find Your IBAN and Bank Code?
This is the easiest part. Just log in to your online banking or mobile banking app, and you’ll definitely find it on your account details page. It’s usually clearly labeled “IBAN”. If you still can’t find it, check any contracts or statements the bank has sent you; it will be on there. Below, I’ve compiled the entity codes for several common banks. For a more comprehensive overview, you can check out this guide to Spanish bank codes or this explainer on Spanish bank codes:
| Bank Name | Bank Entity Code |
|---|
| CaixaBank | 2100 |
| Banco Santander | 0049 |
| BBVA | 0182 |
| Banco Sabadell | 0081 |
| ING | 1465 |
| Bankinter | 0128 |
What About BIC/SWIFT?
BIC, or SWIFT Code, is the bank’s international identifier. It’s mainly used for international transfers, especially when sending money to Spain from a non-Eurozone country. In addition to the IBAN, you’ll usually need to provide this code, such as the Sabadell bank code. It acts like the bank’s ‘address’ on the global financial network, telling other banks where to route the funds.
This code is typically 8 or 11 characters long, for instance, CaixaBank’s is CAIXESBBXXX, and BBVA’s is BBVAESMMXXX. You can also find this in your banking app’s account details. If you’re only transferring euros within Spain or the EU, you usually won’t need it—the IBAN is sufficient. However, it’s a good idea to note it down or know where to find it, just in case.
Once you understand these two core concepts, you’ll have no trouble handling most banking tasks in Spain. Hope this guide was helpful! If you still have questions, feel free to leave a comment and discuss below! May you never make a wrong transfer!
