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IBAN and BIC

An IBAN bank account number is the unique identifier for a payments account and the basis for account-to-account payments.

Recent developments in society

  • Since October 2025, payment service providers have been required to check whether the name and IBAN of the payee provided by the payer match before the payer definitively confirms the payment order for European transfers. This requirement is laid down in the European Instant Payments Regulation (IPR) for both instant payments and traditional transfers. More information can be found on our IBAN Name Check page.
  • Mid-2026, part of the Dutch Tax Administration’s payment transactions will be transferred to another bank. This change follows a European tender. Consumers, businesses, and software suppliers will need to adapt their systems and payment details to a new IBAN. More information can be found on the Dutch Tax Administration website (in Dutch).
  • Issuing Dutch IBANs is interesting for payment service providers entering the Dutch market. Before a payment service provider is allowed to issue IBANs starting with the letters ‘NL’, it must meet various conditions.
  • Companies and institutions may not discriminate against IBANs from other EU countries in account-to-account payments. They may not exclude these foreign IBANs. Reports of IBAN discrimination can be made to DNB.

Role of the Dutch Payments Association

  • The Dutch Payments Association represents the Dutch payments sector and involves many different stakeholders in its activities. We are regarded both nationally and internationally as a reliable and expert neutral partner.
  • We make relevant legislation and regulations accessible and we are the NASO (National Adherence Support Organisation) of the EPC (European Payments Council) for payment service providers in the Netherlands who wish to connect to a scheme for SEPA payments.
  • We are closely involved in the development of relevant legislation and regulations, such as the Instant Payments Regulation. We provide knowledge and information to public stakeholders on draft legislation and assist our members in interpreting and implementing new legislation. We are also involved in the development of the EPC’s European ‘Verification of Payee’ scheme.

Our vision for the future

  • Payments in the Netherlands are reliable, efficient, and innovation-driven. The Dutch Payments Association and its members develop collective processes and share knowledge and experience to implement legislation and regulations. We provide factual information and tools to all participants in the Dutch payments system. In this way, we contribute to ensuring that payments remain efficient across the board in the face of new developments.
  • Our members strive to ensure that as many people as possible have access to a payments account. This also applies to people who do not (or no longer) have a legal right to a regular payments account. For them, there are collective agreements on a ‘second chance’, so that they can, among other things, open a basic bank account or a payments account with a non-bank account provider.
  • Account number portability—taking your IBAN with you when switching to another account provider—is a topic that regularly recurs in political debate. However, portability does not remove all barriers to switching. Moreover, it involves considerable technical complexity and high costs. Instead, we prefer the existing Switching Service. This service offers consumers and businesses an accessible and reliable way to switch payment service providers. We therefore welcome it when more members of the Dutch Payments Association join in offering this service.

Latest news

  • Super-fast and secure transfers between all euro countries from now on

    • News
    • Market infrastructure
    Gepubliceerd op:
    From 9 October 2025, Dutch people will be able to transfer euros super-fast to all banks in other euro countries within ten counts, all days of the year and any time of the day. Conversely, we will then also be able to receive super-fast transfers from all other euro…

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Frequently asked questions

  • Are only Dutch banks allowed to issue Dutch IBANs?

    De Nederlandsche Bank issues licenses to payment service providers that are allowed to offer their services in the Netherlands. The correct license or exemption in combination with a BIC that is suitable for the Netherlands is sufficient to be allowed to issue Dutch IBANs. Issuing payment institutions are Dutch or foreign banks, payment institutions, and electronic money institutions.

  • What is a payment service provider?

    A payment service provider is an organization that processes or facilitates payments on behalf of customers. This could be a bank, for example, but also a fintech company that offers payments accounts, transfers money, or issues payment cards.
    They are supervised by DNB as banks, payment institutions, or electronic money institutions and must comply with European regulations.

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Let's shape the future of payments together

Join the network of payment service providers working together to create a secure, reliable, accessible, and efficient payment ecosystem in the Netherlands.

  • Access to up-to-date knowledge and developments in payments
  • Influence on policy and standards in the Netherlands and Europe
  • Representing the sector to stakeholders
  • Part of the Dutch payment ecosystem