The Bank Identity Statement or RIB contains your precise bank details. You can thus communicate them, without risk of error (we speak of ” direct debit “) to pay invoices (direct debits) or to be paid (transfer from the employer for example).

The content of the RIB

• the surname and first name (s) or business name of the account holder
• the domestic account identifier: bank code (5 digits), branch code (5 digits), account number (11 digits or letters), RIB key (2 digits)
• the title in the plain text of the establishment and the counter keeping the account (initials of the establishment, locality, agency ) (24 characters)

For international account identification:

• the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) code represented by a series of numbers and letters (27), and including (but grouped differently) the bank code, the bank code, and the account number,
• the BIC (Business Identifier Code) code represented by a series of letters (11 or 8).

It can also contain optional information (it depends on the practices of the establishments):

• the address of the account holder
• the address and telephone number of the bank counter.

How to obtain a RIB?

• At the opening of the account,
• Included in checkbooks,
• Usually on your account statement,
• Occasionally, on request at the counter where your account is open.
• In an automatic stopbank ( ATM ) of the institution where you opened your account,
• By connecting to your bank’s website (if you have subscribed to the Internet service).