A new piece of software – BankInfo – has been released by Kevin Wells, following his tried and trusted approach of using Wget as an interface between the RISC OS desktop and a web-based application programmer interface (API).
The new application makes use of the remote API at Bank Data, and provides a way to look up basic information about banks from a selection of source data. You can input one of the following to perform a lookup:
- International Bank Account Number (IBAN).
- SWIFT code, sometimes called a Bank Identifier Code (BIC).
- The Bakleitzahl (Bank Code) or ‘BZL’ for German or Austrian banks.
- The bank routing number – also known as the American Bankers Association (ABA) routing number for banks in the United States.
Perhaps surprisingly, given that the ABA routing number is the equivalent to a sort code in the UK (albeit with three more digits), the latter isn’t offered as an option. However, the sort code (and more) does form part of the IBAN (as does the account number).
With one of those input, the software can then communicate with the remote API and display the returned information – basic information about the bank the number corresponds to.
It can also break down the IBAN fields and structures for countries that use the IBAN system, which not all do.
The first release of the software – version 1.00 – came just after Christmas, while the RISCOSitory bunker was sealed shut for the holidays, and yesterday version 1.01 was released. The update copes with spaces in the data input by the user, rather than produce an error, and other error messages have been improved.
Being one of Kevin’s many Wget-based applications, the software does need an internet connection to be useful – as well as an API key from API Layer (the platform that provides the Bank Data API).
If you find any of Kevin’s software useful, why not consider rewarding him for it by buying some merchandise or with a small contribution.
