The Wertpapierkennnummer (WKN, WPKN, WPK or simply Wert), is a German
securities
A security is a tradable financial asset. The term commonly refers to any form of financial instrument, but its legal definition varies by jurisdiction. In some countries and languages people commonly use the term "security" to refer to any for ...
identification code. It is composed of six digits or capital letters (excluding I and O), and no check digit.
Changes in format
There have been several changes in the WKN definition:
* WKN were switched from numeric to alphanumeric on 21 July 2003
* The first 2–4 Letters may show the issuer of the Instrument
signup required
* Many years ago, the WKNs were divided into different number ranges that represented different types of securities (e.g., stocks, warrants, funds, etc.). However, this number range system representing different classes of securities has been abandoned long ago.
The WKNs and DE-ISINs are provided by WM-Datenservice.
WKNs may be obsolete in future, since they may be replaced by International Securities Identification Number
An International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) uniquely identifies a security. Its structure is defined in ISO 6166. The ISIN code is a 12-character alphanumeric code that serves for uniform identification of a security through normaliz ...
s (ISINs).
Spelling and meaning
Like most very long German words, ''Wertpapierkennnummer'' is a compound word: Wert-Papier-Kennnummer, if translated literally, means value–paper–identification–number (Wertpapier = financial security; Kennnummer = identification number).
Before the German spelling reform of 1996 the correct spelling was ''Wertpapierkennummer'' with only two consecutive ''n''’s, since the orthography rules allowed the same consonant three times in a row only under special circumstances. Since the reform, the spelling has been ''Wertpapierkennnummer'' with three consecutive ''n''’s.
See also
*CUSIP
A CUSIP is a nine-digit numeric (e.g. 037833100 for Apple) or nine-character alphanumeric (e.g. 38259P508 for Google) code that identifies a North American financial security for the purposes of facilitating clearing and settlement of trades. ...
* ISIN
*SEDOL
SEDOL stands for Stock Exchange Daily Official List, a list of security identifiers used in the United Kingdom and Ireland for clearing purposes. The numbers are assigned by the London Stock Exchange, on request by the security issuer. SEDOLs ser ...
References
{{reflist
Security identifier types
Banking in Germany
Financial metadata