2025-04-24
Added · Updated
This Circular establishes the structure and usage rules for the IBAN PT, defining it as a 25-character alphanumeric identifier composed of the country code PT, control digits 50, and the Portuguese Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN/NIB). It specifies that only payment service providers established in Portugal, including credit institutions, payment institutions, electronic money institutions, financial companies, and certain public entities, are authorized to assign IBAN PTs, while explicitly prohibiting non-established entities from doing so. The document further designates Banco de Portugal as the contact point for IBAN-PT matters and ensures the permanent update of the IBAN Registry via SWIFT.
Circular Letter No. CC/2025/00000009 Sent to: Credit Institutions, Financial Companies, Payment Institutions, and Electronic Money Institutions. Mod. 99999924/T – 01/14 Subject: Rules for the use of the unique identifier of payment accounts domiciled with payment service providers established in Portugal (“IBAN PT”)
Background The International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is a standardized payment account number structure, established as an international standard in 1997 with the publication of ISO 13616 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The IBAN is constructed from the BBAN (Basic Bank Account Number) adopted in each country, preceded by the respective country code and two control digits. In the particular case of payment accounts domiciled in Portugal, the IBAN is composed of the former NIB (Bank Identification Number), which corresponds to the Portuguese BBAN, preceded by the country code “PT” and two control digits, which, in the Portuguese case, are always “50”. With the publication of Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2012 establishing technical and business requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euros (SEPA Regulation), the IBAN became enshrined, for the purpose of executing direct debits and SEPA transfers, as the identifier of payment accounts opened with a Payment Service Provider (PSP) established in the European Union. In this context, the identification of national payment accounts and the correct routing of transfers and direct debits depends on the definition of the national BBAN and, consequently, on the IBAN of which it is an integral part.
Object This Circular Letter aims to establish the structure and rules for the use of the unique identifier of payment accounts domiciled with payment service providers established in Portugal (“IBAN PT”), and to clarify which entities are authorized to assign national BBAN and IBAN to payment accounts.
Definitions The definitions contained in Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2012 establishing technical and business requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euros and amending Regulation (EC) No 924/2009 (SEPA Regulation), and in the Legal Regime of Payment Services and Electronic Money, approved in annex to Decree-Law No. 91/2018 of 12 November, apply within the scope of this Circular Letter.
Mod. 99999924/T – 01/14
Description Length Type Positions IBAN PT Country Code 2 Alphabetic 1-2 IBAN Control Digits 2 Numeric 3-4 NIB Financial Agent Code 4 Numeric 5-8 Reference assigned by the PSP 4 Numeric 9-12 Account Number 11 Numeric 13-23 NIB Control Digits 2 Numeric 24-25 Total 25 Alphanumeric
4.2. The fields of the IBAN PT assume the following description: a) Country Code - The country code of the IBAN PT is defined in accordance with ISO 3166 (3166-1 alpha-2 code). Based on this standard, the first two positions of the Portuguese IBAN are filled with the expression “PT”; b) IBAN Control Digits - The two control digits of the IBAN PT are calculated in accordance with ISO/IEC 7064, based on the MOD 97-10 algorithm. Regarding the IBAN PT, the control digits always correspond to “50”; c) Financial Agent Code - Corresponds to the financial agent code assigned by Banco de Portugal, which unequivocally identifies the payment service provider where the account is domiciled; d) Reference assigned by the PSP - Is a reference managed by the payment service provider that can be used to identify the type of payment account, the agency/counter where it is domiciled, or for any other internal classification; e) Account Number - Is the numeric identifier assigned by the payment service provider to its customer's payment account;
Mod. 99999924/T – 01/14
f) NIB Control Digits - The two control digits of the NIB are calculated in accordance with ISO/IEC 7064, based on the MOD 97-10 algorithm.
5.2. The entities identified in the previous point may only issue IBAN PT from the moment they effectively commence their activity in Portugal. 5.3. Entities not established in Portugal are prohibited from assigning IBAN PT.