WKN (German securities ID)

Börseab 9 J.

Wertpapierkennnummer: a 6-character code that uniquely identifies every German security. Increasingly replaced by the international ISIN, but still commonly used.

The WKN (Wertpapierkennnummer, German securities identification number) is a 6-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies every security traded in Germany.

Examples:

• 716460: SAP share
• A0RPWH: iShares Core MSCI World ETF
• DBX1MW: Xtrackers MSCI World ETF
• 514000: Deutsche Bank share

WKN vs. ISIN:

• WKN: 6 characters, only used in Germany. Older, shorter
• ISIN: 12 characters, international. Contains country code + national ID. Preferred

Where is it used?

• When placing orders on the exchange ("buy WKN A0RPWH")
• On financial portals and price displays
• In tax certificates
• In media reports about shares

Tip: you'll need the WKN when buying an ETF in Germany. You can find the WKN of the ETF you want on justETF.com, extraETF.com or directly from the provider (iShares, Vanguard etc.).

Did you know? The WKN was introduced in 1955 and has consisted of 6 alphanumeric characters since 2003 (previously purely numeric). It is assigned by WM Datenservice (Wertpapier-Mitteilungen).

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