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IBAN Structure Germany

Last reviewed: · Source: ISO 13616 / SWIFT IBAN Registry

Germany's IBAN is exactly 22 characters long and follows the pattern DEkk BBBB BBBB CCCC CCCC CC. After the country code DE and two check digits come the 8-digit bank code (Bankleitzahl) and the 10-digit account number, left-padded with zeros where shorter. In German payments, the IBAN replaced the old bank-code-plus-account-number pairing. The check digits are computed with the MOD-97 algorithm (ISO 7064), which catches almost every typo. For payments from EU/EEA banks to Germany, required routing details depend on the bank, currency and route; check them in advance with your bank.

Structural fields are based on the official SWIFT IBAN Registry. The editorial method and validation boundary are documented on our German editorial page (German).

Overview

CountryGermany (DE)
IBAN length22 characters
FormatDEkk BBBB BBBB CCCC CCCC CC

Visual breakdown

Fictitious format example, not payment data:

DE89370400440532013000
Country codeCheck digitsBank codeAccount number

Character-by-character explanation

SegmentCharactersLengthExplanation
Country codeDE2DE for Germany (ISO 3166-1)
Check digits892Two check digits, calculated with MOD-97 (ISO 7064)
Bank code3704004488-digit bank code (Bankleitzahl/BLZ) identifying the bank
Account number05320130001010-digit account number, left-padded with zeros

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Frequently asked questions

How do I check the length of an IBAN from Germany?
Remove spaces and count 22 characters. The first two characters are DE; the remaining positions follow DEkk BBBB BBBB CCCC CCCC CC. A different length is formally invalid for this country format.
What do the check digits in a Germany IBAN mean?
The two check digits are calculated from the complete IBAN using ISO 7064 MOD-97. They help detect format and transcription errors. A passing checksum does not confirm that an account exists or identify its account holder.
What should I do when an IBAN is formally invalid?
Check the country code, character count, letters and digits, and the check digits. Compare the entry with your bank records or ask the bank for the correct IBAN. This checker validates structure and checksum; it does not verify account ownership or payment approval.

IBAN structure for other countries

Austria

20 characters · ATkk BBBB BCCC CCCC CCCC

Switzerland

21 characters · CHkk BBBB BCCC CCCC CCCC C

Liechtenstein

21 characters · LIkk BBBB BCCC CCCC CCCC C

France

27 characters · FRkk BBBB BGGG GGCC CCCC CCCC CKK

Spain

24 characters · ESkk BBBB GGGG KKCC CCCC CCCC

Italy

27 characters · ITkk XBBB BBGG GGGC CCCC CCCC CCC

Portugal

25 characters · PTkk BBBB SSSS CCCC CCCC CCCK K

Netherlands

18 characters · NLkk BBBB CCCC CCCC CC