What is the Somalia IBAN format?

Somalia IBANs start with SO, followed by 2 check digits, then a 19-character BBAN encoding the bank code, branch code, and account number.

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

Somalia IBAN Format

Q: How long is a Somalia IBAN?

A Somalia IBAN is 23 characters long.

23-character IBAN · SOS Somali Shilling

A Somalia IBAN is 23 characters long and always begins with the country code SO, followed by two check digits. The next 4 characters are the Bank Code. This is followed by the Branch Code (3 characters). The remaining 12 characters identify the individual account number. The Somalia IBAN uses the SOS (Somali Shilling) and is not part of the SEPA zone, so international transfer fees and timelines apply.

Length

characters

Country Code

ISO 3166-1

Currency

SOS

Somali Shilling

SEPA

Non-SEPA

Example IBAN

SO21 1000 0010 0100 0100 141

SO Country

21 Check Digits

1000 Bank Code

001 Branch Code

001000100141 Account Number

IBAN Structure

Position	Length	Field	Type	Example Value
1–2	2	Country Code	a	SO
3–4	2	Check Digits	n	21
5–8	4	Bank Code	n	1000
9–11	3	Branch Code	n	001
12–23	12	Account Number	n	001000100141

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

Validate a Somalia IBAN

Paste a Somalia IBAN below to check it.

Somalia IBAN Regex Pattern

^SO\d{2}\d{4}\d{3}\d{12}$

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(' ', '', $input));
if (!preg_match('/^SO\\d{2}\\d{4}\\d{3}\\d{12}$/', $iban)) {
    // Invalid Somalia IBAN format
}

JavaScript

const iban = input.replace(/\s+/g, '').toUpperCase();
const pattern = /^SO\d{2}\d{4}\d{3}\d{12}$/;
if (!pattern.test(iban)) {
  // Invalid Somalia IBAN format
}

Python

import re
iban = input_str.replace(' ', '').upper()
pattern = r'^SO\d{2}\d{4}\d{3}\d{12}$'
if not re.fullmatch(pattern, iban):
    # Invalid Somalia 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 Somalia IBAN

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 Somalia 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 Somalia 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 Somalia

Somalia 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 (23 characters, starts with SO)
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.

Compare transfer services for Somalia

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

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

Central Bank

Central Bank of Somalia

https://www.centralbank.gov.so ↗

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Quick Facts

IBAN Length: 23 chars
Country Code: SO
Currency: SOS
SEPA: No
BBAN Format: 19n