A sort code is a number which represents a bank branch and intended for internal processing. Some branches have subbranches, also know as non-accounting branches. It identifies both the bank and the branch where the account is held. Furthermore routing information as specified by ISO 9362 does not contain check digits, so simple errors of transcription were not detectable and it was not possible for a sending bank to validate the routing information prior to submitting the payment. The IBAN was originally developed to facilitate payments within the European Union but the format is flexible enough to be applied globally and has now been adopted by many Middle Eastern countries as well as most European countries.