SWIFT/BIC Code Reference
Reference for SWIFT/BIC code format and structure. Validate a code below.
Format
SWIFT/BIC: 8 or 11 characters. Positions 1-4: bank code. 5-6: ISO country code. 7-8: location code. 9-11: branch code (optional).
How this tool works
A SWIFT Business Identifier Code, a BIC, is eight or eleven characters and identifies a bank, and in most cases a specific branch, for international payments. The first four are the bank code, the next two the country code, the next two the location code, and the final three the branch code, which is optional and often left as XXX when the instruction may be applied to the head office.
The structure is deliberately readable. A BIC carries its own country, so a payment file can be grouped by country without a separate reference table, and the ISO country code is the same one used in IBANs, which means the two identifiers can be checked against each other. The check character is an ISO 9362 check on the alphanumeric string.
How a BIC is structured
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Bank code, institution specific |
| 5 to 6 | ISO country code |
| 7 to 8 | Location code, usually a city or a branch identifier |
| 9 to 11 | Branch code, XXX when the head office is meant |
An eight character BIC omits the branch code entirely and is read as applying to the head office.
When to use it
- Validate a BIC in a cross-border payment file
- Confirm that the country in a BIC matches the country in the IBAN
- Extract the country of a beneficiary bank from the code alone
- Check a beneficiary bank reference before sending an instruction
Frequently asked questions
What is a SWIFT BIC?
A Business Identifier Code: eight or eleven characters identifying a bank, and usually a branch, for international payments. It is defined in ISO 9362.
What do the parts of a BIC mean?
Four characters for the bank, two for the country, two for the location, and three for the branch. The last three are XXX when the head office is meant.
Is the country in a BIC the same as in an IBAN?
Yes, both use the ISO 3166 country code, so the two can be checked against each other as a sanity check on a payment.
Does a valid BIC mean the bank is reachable?
No. It means the code is well formed. A BIC that has been withdrawn, or that names a branch that has closed, will still pass the check.
Why are some BICs eight characters and some eleven?
The older format was eight, covering the head office. The branch code was added later, and the three XXX characters are the convention for a head-office instruction.