# Do you need a BIC? IBAN only in SEPA

> What the European Payments Council says about IBAN and BIC for SEPA credit transfers, since when a BIC is not needed, and when a BIC still matters.

- Canonical URL: https://swiftcodelookup.com/bic-iban-sepa/
- Source: [European Payments Council, IBAN and BIC](http://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/index.cfm/sepa-credit-transfer/iban-and-bic/)
- Checked: 2026-10-22
- Structured data: https://swiftcodelookup.com/data/bic-iban-sepa.json

This page includes a free interactive tool that runs in the browser and sends no data. The figures and rules it uses are the ones stated on this page, with their sources.

## What the EPC says

The EPC page says that since February 2016 the "IBAN only" rule has applied to euro SEPA credit transfers: payers and payees no longer have to give the other party's BIC, because the IBAN is sufficient to process the transaction. Payment service providers can use third-party databases to link an IBAN to its BIC ([EPC](http://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/index.cfm/sepa-credit-transfer/iban-and-bic/)).

## Two identifiers, two jobs

| Identifier | Standard | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|
| IBAN | ISO 13616 | An account: country code, check digits and a basic bank account number |
| BIC | ISO 9362 | A payment service provider, including its country, and possibly a branch |

Together they allow any account in any country to be identified ([EPC](http://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/index.cfm/sepa-credit-transfer/iban-and-bic/)). The IBAN registry is published by Swift as the ISO registration authority ([Swift](https://www.swift.com/standards/data-standards/iban-international-bank-account-number)).

## When a BIC may still be asked for

The EPC page is about euro SEPA credit transfers. A transfer outside that scheme, or a form written for another system, may still ask for a BIC. We have not read which systems do, so ask the bank or the form's instructions. Our [format checker](https://swiftcodelookup.com/) tells you whether a code you were given has a valid shape.

## Why the BIC still appears in documents

Banks print BICs on statements and websites, and invoices from companies in many countries include them. A BIC on an invoice is a hint to find the right bank, not a guarantee that the account is right. Compare the IBAN with the recipient through a channel you trust. See [before you send money](https://swiftcodelookup.com/before-you-send-money/).

## Left out on purpose
Non-euro SEPA payments, the SEPA Regulation text and national rules were not read for this page.

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