Sending money abroad

IBANs are used by banks of other member or joining countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland as well as a few others. A list of all IBAN compliant countries is available.

Using the IBAN is an internationally agreed method for transactions between banks located in different countries. It provides a simple means for foreign banks to check the validity of your bank account number. 

An IBAN is always used in conjunction with your BIC (Bank Identifier Code). A BIC (sometimes referred to as SWIFT code) is a unique set of characters, being either 8 or 11 numbers and letters. This enables easy identification of financial institutions (e.g. banks) when carrying out international transactions.

To receive international payments you need to supply your IBAN and BIC, these can be found in the 'View/Share account details' section of the mobile app, on Online Banking or your account statement.

The easiest way to find your IBAN and BIC is from the mobile app, you could also use Online Banking or your account statement:

Mobile app

1. Log in to your app.
2. Tap on the account you want to see.
3. Select the three dots on the top right of your screen.
4. Tap 'View/Share account details' to see your IBAN and BIC code.

Online Banking

1. Log in to www.onlinebanking.natwest.com.
2. Select the account you wish to view from the 'Account summary' screen.
3. Select the option 'View account details'.
4. You will see the IBAN & BIC code listed on screen.

You will receive a guaranteed rate when making a payment via the mobile app or Online Banking.

In the event the rates system is unavailable, the payment is future dated or the payment is initiated after the cut off time, then you will receive an indicative rate. This is due to a delay between the date and time the payment transaction is made and the date and time the payment transaction is processed by NatWest, the actual rate used on your payment may differ because the rate is set when your payment is processed.

A recent payment is a payment which has already be debited from your account.

If you have just made an International Payment you will be able to see the transaction on the mini statement of the account the money has left.

You will see any international payments you have made in the last 6 months by selecting the 'View recent payments' option in the 'International payments' section of the 'Payments and transfers' page. Other previous payments can be viewed within 'Statements'.

A scheduled payment is a payment which has been created to be paid on a future date.

To view a scheduled international payment, select 'Payments and transfers' from the main menu. From the 'International payments' section select 'View or cancel a scheduled payment'. A list of your future dated international payments will appear. You may choose to cancel a payment by selecting it from the list and then 'Cancel Payment'.

Scheduled international payments can be cancelled up to 16:00 (UK time) on the business day before the payment is due to be made.

Please note: if you have set up a scheduled payment at a branch, it will not appear in your list of scheduled payments. Please contact a branch for further details of this payment.

If you need to change the foreign bank details of a payee to make an international payment you will need to delete the existing payee and set them up again with the new account details.

To delete an International Beneficiary:

1. Log in to your Online Banking service at www.onlinebanking.natwest.com.
2. Select ‘Payments and transfers’ from the left hand menu.
3. From the ‘International payments’ section select ‘Manage beneficiaries’.
4. Select the appropriate payee from your Beneficiary list of Scheduled Payments, and then 'Delete beneficiary'.
5. If you are happy to delete the beneficiary, select 'Confirm'.

To set up the payee again with their new bank details and to make a payment to them follow the steps at the beginning of this page. 

Please note: You'll need a card-reader and a card you can use with that reader to complete this process.

To discuss the possibility of recalling an international payment, please call Telephone Banking.

Any attempt to recall international payments are done so on a best endeavours basis. Please note that any payments that are recalled successfully may be subject to currency exchange loss upon return (if initially converted to another currency).

A £25 admin fee also applies.

You can find a UK sort code and account number from an IBAN. 

To find the sort code, use the middle 6 digits of the IBAN (Digits 9 to 14).

To find the account number, use the last 8 digits of the IBAN (Digits 15 to 22).