An account number identifies an account within one country's banking system. An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is the internationally standardised version: a two-letter country code, two check digits and the domestic account details, including the account number. SEPA euro transfers use the IBAN. UK domestic sterling payments use a sort code and account number.
Ultima verifica il 2026-10-28
| Field | Visible value |
|---|---|
| Account number | Domestic identifier, format set nationally |
| IBAN | International format defined by ISO 13616 |
| IBAN structure | Country code + 2 check digits + domestic account details (BBAN) |
| Maximum IBAN length | 34 characters; fixed length per country |
| UK IBAN | 22 characters; contains the sort code and 8-digit account number |
| SEPA euro transfers | IBAN required; BIC not needed within the EEA |
| UK domestic sterling payments | Sort code and account number |
| Quppy EUR routes | SEPA Standard and SEPA Instant where enabled |
| Incoming GBP in Quppy | Not currently available |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-28 |
An account number identifies one account at one payment provider within a single country. Its format is set nationally: in the UK it is an eight-digit number used together with a six-digit sort code; other countries combine a bank code and account number in their own way. On its own, a domestic account number is not enough for a payment from abroad, because it does not say which country or system it belongs to.
An IBAN, or International Bank Account Number, is the international standard for identifying an account, defined in ISO 13616. It is built from three parts:
Each country has a fixed IBAN length, up to a maximum of 34 characters. The country code shows where the account is held, not where the account holder lives.
The IBAN contains the account number. It is not a different account, just the same account written in an internationally recognised format.
A UK IBAN shows this clearly. It is 22 characters long: GB, two check digits, a four-letter bank code, the six-digit sort code and the eight-digit account number. The example IBAN GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19 contains the sort code 60-16-13 and the account number 31926819.
| Payment | What to use |
|---|---|
| Euro transfer within SEPA (SEPA Standard or SEPA Instant) | The recipient's IBAN. Within the EEA, the IBAN is enough. |
| Euro transfer to a SEPA country outside the EEA | The IBAN, and the bank may also ask for the BIC. |
| UK domestic sterling payment (Faster Payments, CHAPS) | The sort code and account number. |
| International payment outside SEPA | Usually the IBAN or account number, plus the bank's BIC (SWIFT code). |
When you enter an IBAN, copy it exactly. In the euro area, providers now check the name you enter against the name held on the account behind the IBAN before you confirm a transfer.
Quppy supports eligible EUR operations through SEPA Standard and SEPA Instant, and eligible GBP operations through Faster Payments and CHAPS. Enter the beneficiary details the transfer flow asks for, and review the route, amount and fee before you confirm.
If you want to receive money, use only the account details currently displayed for your account in the app. Do not rely on old screenshots or saved details. Incoming GBP transfers are not currently available through Quppy.
No. An IBAN includes the account number, together with a country code, check digits and the bank identifier, in an international format.
Usually yes. In a UK IBAN, the last eight digits are the account number and the six digits before them are the sort code. Other countries arrange the domestic details differently.
Not for a SEPA transfer within the EEA. For payments to SEPA countries outside the EEA, or international payments outside SEPA, the bank may ask for the BIC.
No. The country code shows where the account is held, not where the account holder lives.
This article explains general payment identifiers and the current Quppy product configuration. The applicable Quppy and service-provider terms, country eligibility rules and information shown in the app prevail if they differ from this article.
A sort code is a six-digit number, usually written as three pairs such as 60-16-13, that identifies the UK payment service provider, and often the branch or office, where an account is held. Together with an eight-digit account number it identifies a UK account for domestic sterling payments such as Faster Payments, CHAPS and Bacs. It also appears inside a UK IBAN.
Quppy currently supports eligible EUR operations through SEPA Standard and SEPA Instant, and eligible GBP operations through Faster Payments and CHAPS. The exact incoming or outgoing direction, limits, processing status and provider depend on the user’s account configuration. Incoming GBP transfers are not currently available.
The Quppy multicurrency IBAN is a fiat account service for eligible users to manage EUR and GBP through one connected Quppy experience. It is described as crypto-friendly because separate crypto wallet and exchange services can be accessed through the wider Quppy app. The IBAN itself does not hold crypto and does not provide crypto exchange.
No. Incoming GBP payments are not currently available through Quppy. Eligible users may still have other GBP functionality, including managing an available GBP balance, exchanging EUR and GBP, using supported GBP payment operations and accessing supported GBP-to-crypto and crypto-to-GBP exchange through a separate crypto service. Check the current configuration shown in your account before acting.
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