
Making international payments
Read time: 3 mins Date added: 26/05/2023
It doesn’t take long to learn how to make international payments. In fact, it’s like making a regular payment, although there is some extra information you need to know.
Remember that fluctuations in currency exchange rates can affect the price you pay or the amount you receive. So, keep a close eye on the strength of the Pound compared to other currencies.
What is a BIC?
A Business Identifier Code (BIC) identifies particular banks worldwide. It's also known as a SWIFT code. You can find your BIC in Online for Business under 'More actions' and 'Account Information’.
It is formatted like this, with your own combination of numbers and letters:

What is an IBAN?
An International Bank Account Number (IBAN) identifies individual bank accounts according to an international agreement. IBANs are mandatory for EU (European) and EEA (European Economic Area) countries. You can find your IBAN in Lloyds Bank’s Online for Business site under ‘More actions’ and ‘Account Information’.
It is formatted like this, with your own combination of numbers and letters:

An IBAN is specific to a country, so character length can vary. For example, French IBANs always have 20 characters.
- France: FR123456789101112131
- Germany: DE123456789101112131
- Ireland: IE291234567891011121
Keep your accounts protected
Only share your BIC and IBAN with someone who’s making a payment to you. Never give out any other confidential details, such as your PIN or memorable information.
We adhere to The Standards of Lending Practice which are monitored and enforced by the LSB: www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk