What is the El Salvador IBAN format?

El Salvador IBANs start with SV, followed by 2 check digits, then a 24-character BBAN encoding the bank code, branch code, and account number.

Is El Salvador in SEPA?

El Salvador is not a SEPA member. International transfer fees and timelines apply.

El Salvador IBAN Format

Q: How long is a El Salvador IBAN?

A El Salvador IBAN is 28 characters long.

28-character IBAN · USD US Dollar

A El Salvador IBAN is 28 characters long and always begins with the country code SV, followed by two check digits. The next 4 characters are the Bank Code. The remaining 20 characters identify the individual account number. The El Salvador IBAN uses the USD (US Dollar) and is not part of the SEPA zone, so international transfer fees and timelines apply.

Length

characters

Country Code

ISO 3166-1

Currency

USD

US Dollar

SEPA

Non-SEPA

Example IBAN

SV62 CENR 0000 0000 0000 0070 0025

SV Country

62 Check Digits

CENR Bank Code

00000000000000700025 Account Number

IBAN Structure

Position	Length	Field	Type	Example Value
1–2	2	Country Code	a	SV
3–4	2	Check Digits	n	62
5–8	4	Bank Code	a	CENR
9–28	20	Account Number	n	00000000000000700025

n = numeric only (0–9) a = alphabetic only (A–Z) c = alphanumeric (0–9, A–Z)

Validate a El Salvador IBAN

Paste a El Salvador IBAN below to check it.

El Salvador IBAN Regex Pattern

^SV\d{2}[A-Z]{4}\d{20}$

Pattern validates length, country code, check digit positions, and field character types. Does not verify the MOD-97 checksum (use the validator above for full validation).

PHP

$iban = strtoupper(str_replace(' ', '', $input));
if (!preg_match('/^SV\\d{2}[A-Z]{4}\\d{20}$/', $iban)) {
    // Invalid El Salvador IBAN format
}

JavaScript

const iban = input.replace(/\s+/g, '').toUpperCase();
const pattern = /^SV\d{2}[A-Z]{4}\d{20}$/;
if (!pattern.test(iban)) {
  // Invalid El Salvador IBAN format
}

Python

import re
iban = input_str.replace(' ', '').upper()
pattern = r'^SV\d{2}[A-Z]{4}\d{20}$'
if not re.fullmatch(pattern, iban):
    # Invalid El Salvador IBAN format

These snippets check format only. For full IBAN validation including MOD-97 checksum, use a dedicated IBAN library or the validator on this page.

How to Find Your El Salvador IBAN

El Salvador accounts are traditionally identified using: Bank Code (4a) + Account Number (20n). Your IBAN encodes these same components in the standardised international format.

1
Mobile banking app — Open your bank's app, navigate to account details or "Account Info." Your IBAN is usually displayed alongside your account number. Look for a field labelled "IBAN" or "International Account Number."
2
Bank statement — Your El Salvador IBAN appears in the account header of your printed or PDF bank statement, typically near the top of the first page.
3
Online banking — Log in to your bank's website and go to "Account Details," "Account Summary," or "Profile." Most El Salvador banks display the IBAN prominently in account settings.
4
Bank branch or helpline — Call your bank's customer service or visit a branch with your ID. They can provide your full IBAN instantly.

Once you have your IBAN, use the validator above to confirm it is correctly formatted before sharing it.

Sending Money to El Salvador

El Salvador is not a SEPA member. Transfers require both an IBAN and a BIC/SWIFT code. Expect 2–5 business days and a SWIFT correspondent fee (typically $10–$40 USD via a traditional bank). Using a specialist service like Wise or Revolut can significantly reduce these fees.

What to provide

Recipient's full name
IBAN (28 characters, starts with SV)
BIC / SWIFT code
Recipient's bank address (some banks)

Typical transfer time

2–5 days

Via SWIFT network. Specialist services (Wise, Revolut) are often faster and cheaper than traditional bank wires.

El Salvador adopted IBAN relatively recently. Not SEPA. Always include BIC. El Salvador uses USD as its official currency.

Compare transfer services for El Salvador

Specialist services typically charge significantly less than high-street banks for international transfers.

Wise — Low fees, real exchange rate ↗ Revolut — Fast transfers ↗

Central Bank

Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador

https://www.bcr.gob.sv ↗

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Quick Facts

IBAN Length: 28 chars
Country Code: SV
Currency: USD
SEPA: No
BBAN Format: 4a20n
IBAN Required: mandatory
Adopted: 2016