ShareYourGroupShareYourGroupIBAN

IBAN format of Bahrain: 22 characters, starts with BH

An IBAN of Bahrain is 22 characters long and begins with BH. Here is what each part means, a made-up example, and how to check one.

Made-up example (not a real account)

BH55 XXXX 1234 5678 9012 34

  • BHCountry
  • 55Check digits
  • XXXXBank code
  • 12345678901234Account number
Length
22 characters
Starts with
BH
After the check digits
4 capital letters, then 14 letters or digits
Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
No
Layout code in the registry
BH2!n4!a14!c

Part by part

PositionPartMade ofIn the example
1 to 2Country code2 capital letters: BHBH
3 to 4IBAN check digits2 digits55
5 to 8Bank code4 capital lettersXXXX
9 to 22Account number14 letters or digits12345678901234

The parts with a name here are: Bank code, account number. The bank decides the bank code and the account number; you never have to work them out yourself. The layout code BH2!n4!a14!c is how the registry writes this: a number, then n for digits, a for capital letters or c for letters or digits.

How to check an IBAN of Bahrain

  1. Count the characters without spaces. There must be exactly 22.
  2. The first two must be BH, and the next two must be digits.
  3. After those four, the rest must follow the layout: 4 capital letters, then 14 letters or digits.
  4. Run the check-digit test. The IBAN checker does all four steps for you and shows which one fails.

Writing it down

On paper, an IBAN is written in groups of four characters with spaces, as in the example above, so that it is easier to read and compare. In online banking and in files it is entered without spaces. Both forms are the same IBAN. Letters are always capitals.

How it compares

At 22 characters, it sits between the shortest IBAN in the registry (Norway, 15 characters) and the longest (Russia, 33 characters). The same length is used by Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Montenegro, Serbia, United Kingdom, each with its own layout. It mixes letters and digits after the check digits.

Common questions

How many characters does an IBAN of Bahrain have?

An IBAN of Bahrain always has 22 characters: the letters BH, two check digits and 18 more characters for the bank and the account.

What does an IBAN of Bahrain start with?

It starts with BH, the country code, followed by two check digits.

Is Bahrain in SEPA?

No. Bahrain uses IBAN but is not part of the Single Euro Payments Area.

Layout checked in November 2026 against the SWIFT IBAN Registry data. The example is made up. For a payment, use only the IBAN given by the account holder or the bank, and check with the bank if in doubt.

Check an IBAN All countries