International Bank Account Numbers (IBANs) were introduced in 2001 to provide a standard format for account numbers across Europe, to improve the quality of information exchanged between parties involved in European cross-border payments to help minimise errors and delays.

To ensure all parties involved in European cross-border payments gain the benefits available from the use of IBANs, European directives have been passed to enforce their use.

With effect from 01/01/2006, you must provide the beneficiary's IBAN and receiving bank SWIFTBIC (Bank Identifier Code) for all International Payments in Euros to EU Member States (25 countries), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland in accordance with the European Directives.

You and your European trading partners may also benefit from reduced charges for payments in Euros between EU Member States if a valid IBAN is quoted in your payment instruction in conjunction with the beneficiary bank's SWIFTBIC.

When you are the beneficiary of a cross border payment from Europe, as well as providing the payer with your IBAN you must also tell them Barclays' SWIFTBIC (Bank Identifier Code) which is BARCGB22. This essential code tells the overseas Bank that this is the UK Barclays address to receive your funds.

You will find your IBAN for your Barclays account on your bank statements. You can also use this site to generate an IBAN* for your Barclays UK accounts.

We will not charge you for processing payments received from EU Member States in Euros for €50,000 or less (effective from 01/01/2006) if they contain your IBAN and SWIFTBIC details.

There is currently no requirement to use IBANs for Domestic Payments (i.e. payments within a particular country).