diff --git a/iban.js b/iban.js
index ab4690a..7e6a063 100644
--- a/iban.js
+++ b/iban.js
@@ -119,6 +119,16 @@
         return new RegExp('^' + regex.join('') + '$');
     }
 
+    /**
+     *
+     * @param iban
+     * @returns {string}
+     */
+    function electronicFormat(iban){
+        return iban.replace(NON_ALPHANUM, '').toUpperCase();
+    }
+
+
     /**
      * Create a new Specification for a valid IBAN number.
      *
@@ -330,7 +340,7 @@
         if (!isString(iban)){
             return false;
         }
-        iban = this.electronicFormat(iban);
+        iban = electronicFormat(iban);
         var countryStructure = countries[iban.slice(0,2)];
         return !!countryStructure && countryStructure.isValid(iban);
     };
@@ -346,7 +356,7 @@
         if (typeof separator == 'undefined'){
             separator = ' ';
         }
-        iban = this.electronicFormat(iban);
+        iban = electronicFormat(iban);
         var countryStructure = countries[iban.slice(0,2)];
         if (!countryStructure) {
             throw new Error('No country with code ' + iban.slice(0,2));
@@ -368,7 +378,7 @@
         if (!countryStructure) {
             throw new Error('No country with code ' + countryCode);
         }
-        return countryStructure.fromBBAN(this.electronicFormat(bban));
+        return countryStructure.fromBBAN(electronicFormat(bban));
     };
 
     /**
@@ -382,7 +392,7 @@
             return false;
         }
         var countryStructure = countries[countryCode];
-        return countryStructure && countryStructure.isValidBBAN(this.electronicFormat(bban));
+        return countryStructure && countryStructure.isValidBBAN(electronicFormat(bban));
     };
 
     /**
@@ -395,18 +405,10 @@
         if (typeof separator == 'undefined'){
             separator = ' ';
         }
-        return this.electronicFormat(iban).replace(EVERY_FOUR_CHARS, "$1" + separator);
-    };
-
-    /**
-     *
-     * @param iban
-     * @returns {string}
-     */
-    exports.electronicFormat = function(iban){
-        return iban.replace(NON_ALPHANUM, '').toUpperCase();
+        return electronicFormat(iban).replace(EVERY_FOUR_CHARS, "$1" + separator);
     };
 
+    exports.electronicFormat = electronicFormat;
     /**
      * An object containing all the known IBAN specifications.
      */