What Is a BLZ?

The BLZ, which stands for Bankleitzahl, is a bank code specific to Germany. To understand and parse German IBANs, you need to know the BLZ. In this guide we explain what a BLZ is, where it is found, and what it is for.

What is a BLZ and where is it found?

The BLZ is an 8-digit code that identifies each bank (and, in some cases, a branch/institution) in Germany. In the pre-IBAN era, together with the account number, it was used for routing payments. Today it retains its importance, because it appears inside the German IBAN: digits 5–12 of the 22-character German IBAN are the BLZ. The BLZ is published by the Deutsche Bundesbank (Germany's central bank) and is updated regularly.

What is a BLZ for?

Because the BLZ identifies a German bank, it is possible to reach the bank name and the BIC from it. For example, you can separate the BLZ from a German IBAN and find the bank. To do this, use the BLZ lookup tool to find the bank name, city and BIC from a BLZ; or the German IBAN parser tool to split the IBAN directly into the BLZ and account number and see the bank information.

The difference between the BLZ and the BIC

The BLZ is a national bank code valid only within Germany; the BIC, on the other hand, is an international bank code. A German bank has both a BLZ and a BIC, and it is possible to reach the BIC from the BLZ. For details, see the BLZ vs BIC page.

Summary

The BLZ is Germany's 8-digit national bank code and appears inside the German IBAN (digits 5–12). It is published by the Bundesbank; the bank name and BIC can be found from the BLZ. Do not confuse it with the international BIC: the BLZ is national, the BIC is international.