Article facts
| Field | Visible value |
|---|---|
| What it is | An account identifier assigned to one specific customer |
| Typical use | Customer payments, acquiring settlements, commercial transfers |
| Rails available through it | Depend on the underlying account configuration |
| Does every customer receive one? | No |
| Does holding an IBAN make the provider a bank? | No |
| Where availability is confirmed | The individual offer |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-09 |
Dedicated versus virtual
| Dedicated IBAN | Virtual IBAN | |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned to | One specific customer | A flow, source or entity within an arrangement |
| Primary purpose | Receiving and, where supported, sending | Identifying and reconciling incoming payments |
| Relationship to the account | The account identifier for that customer | Linked to an underlying account arrangement |
| Separate bank account | No | Not necessarily |
What determines what you can do with it
The available payment rails depend on the underlying account configuration. Holding a GB IBAN does not by itself mean that every GBP direction or rail is enabled, and it does not imply access to rails in other currencies.
Check the directions and rails recorded in your offer rather than inferring them from the identifier.
Before you publish the details
Give payers and acquiring providers the details exactly as shown in your account. Confirm with an acquiring provider that it can pay out to the proposed details before you change any settlement instruction — see Will my acquirer accept the account details?.
Frequently asked questions
Does every customer receive a dedicated GB IBAN? No. It may be available depending on eligibility, compliance approval and account configuration.
Is it a bank account? No. It is an account identifier under the applicable account arrangement.
Can it be used for outgoing payments? Outgoing capability depends on the approved configuration. Use the payment instructions shown in your account.
Can we have more than one? The identifiers included, and how many, are determined during onboarding.
This article is explanatory. The individual offer and applicable agreements prevail if they differ from it.