New IBAN system worries Dutch charities

In the Netherlands, charity organisations, including VFI and the Giro 555, are raising concerns over IBAN digit bank account numbers to be implemented in 2014. International bank account number / Wikipedia According to Dutch charity organisations, making a shift to 18 digits could hurt charitable contributions, the AD reports. The organisations think new longer numbers will be difficult for people to remember and they could become reluctant to make a donation. Currently, Dutch charities use very short bank account numbers such as Giro 999. Starting February, the bank account numbers will have 18 digits, a change made by European legislation to make bank transfers easier. The organisations plan to sit together with the banks to make arrangements.