Developers Center

Start Integrating

Obtain an API key, check with our documentation and start implementing our functionality in your business process.

Fast, simple, secure and complete

Our services have been created with ease of integration in mind. Our API uses minimal number of calls to serve our functions in your software's workflow.

Your application sends an IBAN to api.iban.com and receives validation results, bank details, BIC and SEPA reachability in one response

DEVELOPERS DOCUMENTATION

Seven REST APIs and one data file for checking payment details before you send money. Every API runs over HTTPS, answers in JSON (all but the BAV and VAT APIs also in XML) and is called with your API key.

APIs and data

IBAN Validation API

v4
Check an IBAN a customer typed in and get the issuing bank, its BIC and SEPA reachability in the same call, with every check reported as a separate result.
IBAN Suite

IBAN Calculation API

v1
Turn a domestic bank code, branch and account number into a valid IBAN, with local check-digit validation where the country has one. 57 countries.
IBAN Suite

BIC Validation API

v2
Confirm that a BIC / SWIFT code exists and is operational, and identify the institution, branch and address behind it. Directory data licensed from S.W.I.F.T. SCRL and refreshed regularly.
BIC Validation

BAV (Verification of Payee) API

v3
Ask the issuing bank whether an account exists, is active and belongs to the payee name you hold, before you send the payment. Covers the United Kingdom and 20 SEPA countries.
Bank Account Verification

SortWare API

v4
Validate a UK or Irish sort code and account number, convert the pair to an IBAN and see which payment schemes the branch supports: BACS, CHAPS, FPS, Direct Debit and C&CC.
SortWare

Bank Suite API

v1
Validate bank codes and account numbers for countries that do not use IBAN, such as US routing numbers, and look the bank up in the world bank directory with the details you need in one call.
Bank Suite

VAT Validation API

v1
Check a VAT number against the national registry and get the registered name and address back: EU member states, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and Norway. For invoicing, reverse-charge checks and customer onboarding.
VAT Suite

EISCD Data File

A weekly copy of the Extended Industry Sort Code Directory from Vocalink: bank, branch and payment scheme data for every UK sort code. Download it from the client area, by API or over SFTP.
Sort Codes Directory · weekly file

Good to know

Keys and access
  • One key per account. Each API has to be enabled on your subscription; calling one you have not ordered returns 304.
  • You can restrict your key to the IP addresses of your servers; requests from any other address then get 305. Manage the list in Client area → Settings.
  • Keep the key server-side. Never put it in browser JavaScript or a mobile app.
  • Low-credit notifications and usage are shown in the client area.
Requests and responses
  • All endpoints live under https://api.iban.com/clients/api/ and accept form-encoded GET or POST. Two exceptions: BAV (api.iban.com/clients/api/verify/v3/) takes a JSON body with the key in the x-api-key header, and the VAT API lives on api.bav.com/validate/.
  • format=json or format=xml. The Validation, SortWare and Bank Suite pages link an XML schema (XSD) of their responses.
Test data