If you’re going to make an international bank transfer, it’s likely that you’ll be asked for some codes to correctly identify the destination account. Here we explain what each one means and in which cases they are used.
IBAN Code (International Bank Account Number)
The IBAN is a standardized international number that identifies a bank account in a specific country.
Format: up to 34 characters, including the country code, check digits, and account number
Example: ES9121000418450200051332
⚠️ In Argentina, IBAN is not used. Instead, the CBU (Clave Bancaria Uniforme) is used — a 22-digit number that uniquely identifies a local bank account.
SWIFT Code (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication)
The SWIFT code, also commonly known as the BIC code, identifies a bank at the international level.
Format: 8 to 11 characters
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First 4: bank code
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Next 2: country code
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Last 2 to 5: location and branch code
Example: BSCHARBA
Use: required to send or receive international transfers.
BIC Code (Bank Identifier Code)
BIC is another name for the SWIFT code. Both serve the same function and can be used interchangeably.
Do you need these codes to use Betano in Argentina?
No. To make deposits or withdrawals within Argentina, you don’t need IBAN, BIC or SWIFT.
These are only required when making an international transfer from or to a foreign bank account.
Where can you find these codes?
You can get them through:
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Your online banking
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Your bank statement
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Contacting your bank directly