Named IBAN
A named IBAN is an International Bank Account Number issued in the account holder's own name, rather than a shared or pooled identifier — so payments are clearly attributable to that holder.
IBAN basics. An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is the standardised format used to identify a bank account in cross-border and SEPA payments. A *named* IBAN is one that belongs to, and displays, the specific account holder — as opposed to a virtual or pooled arrangement where many users share an underlying account and are distinguished only by a reference number. The distinction is invisible in the format itself but significant in how the account behaves and how counterparties perceive it.
Why "named" matters. Named IBANs matter for clarity, trust and compliance. When an account holder's own name is on the IBAN, incoming and outgoing payments are unambiguously theirs; counterparties see a consistent identity; and payment matching, reconciliation and name-checking (such as Confirmation of Payee-style checks) work cleanly. Pooled or reference-based arrangements can work but introduce ambiguity that some counterparties and regulators are wary of — a payment to a pooled account with a reference is more easily misdirected or harder to trace, which matters for financial-crime controls.
Where it fits. Named IBANs are a mark of a more robust account setup, particularly for businesses that need their financial identity to be clear to customers, suppliers and banks. They pair naturally with multi-currency accounts — a business may hold a named IBAN in each currency — and support clean, attributable money movement across SEPA and international rails. For a business that wants payments to arrive reliably and be reconciled without friction, a named IBAN is materially better than a shared alternative.