How to Check an IBAN: Format, Check Digits and Common Errors
How an IBAN is structured, how the check digits catch typos step by step, and what to verify before you send money.
6 min readRead guide
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Free Finance Guides: IBAN, Gold and Currency
Practical, plain-English guides that go with FloatForex's free tools: how to check bank details before you send money abroad, how gold is priced and taxed in the Gulf, and how to convert currencies and handle VAT correctly. Every guide is free, cites its sources and can be saved as a PDF.
- Guides:
- 10
- Topics:
- 3
- Last updated:
- 8 October 2026
IBAN, SWIFT & International Payments
Check account details correctly and send money abroad without failed or misdirected transfers.
IBAN Format by Country: Length, Structure and Examples
IBAN lengths and valid examples for 28 countries, including Germany, the UK, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
4 min readRead guide
SWIFT/BIC Codes Explained: Format, Examples and When You Need One
How to read an 8- or 11-character SWIFT/BIC code, where to find yours, and when a transfer actually needs it.
4 min readRead guide
IBAN vs SWIFT/BIC: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?
A side-by-side comparison of IBAN and SWIFT/BIC, with four real transfer scenarios showing exactly which codes to use.
3 min readRead guide
Gold Prices & Buying Gold
How gold is priced by karat and currency, what you pay on top in the Gulf, and how gold behaves against inflation.
Is Gold a Good Inflation Hedge? What 50 Years of Prices Show
Gold's real record against inflation since 1971: the decades it worked, the decades it didn't, and what actually moves the price.
5 min readRead guide
Buying Gold in Dubai: How Prices Are Set, VAT and Making Charges
How Dubai's gold rate is calculated, the making charges and 5% VAT on top, and how tourists reclaim VAT at the airport.
5 min readRead guide
Buying Gold in Saudi Arabia: 21K Prices, VAT and What to Check
How the SAR gold price is calculated, why 21K is the local standard, how 15% VAT applies, and how Saudi prices compare with Dubai.
4 min readRead guide
Gold Karats Explained: 24K vs 22K vs 21K vs 18K
Purity and hallmarks for every common karat, how to price each one from the 24K rate, and grams vs tolas vs troy ounces.
4 min readRead guide
Currency, Exchange Rates & VAT
Convert currencies correctly, understand what moves the rate, and get VAT numbers and VAT arithmetic right.
USD to Euro Exchange Rate Guide: What Moves EUR/USD and How to Convert
How EUR/USD is quoted, how to convert either way, what moves the rate, and how to avoid hidden markups when you exchange.
6 min readRead guide
EU VAT Number Guide: Format by Country, VIES Check and VAT Formulas
VAT number formats for all 27 EU countries, how to confirm a number in VIES, and the right formulas for adding or removing VAT.
4 min readRead guide
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How these guides are made
Each guide lists its sources, shows the date it was last checked, and is reviewed before publication. They are educational, not financial or tax advice. See our editorial standards or browse the FloatForex blog for market news and analysis.