SWIFT/BIC Validator
ValidatorValidate SWIFT/BIC bank identifier codes. Checks the 8 or 11-character format and decodes the bank, country, location, and branch segments. Runs entirely in your browser.
About this tool
About SWIFT/BIC Validator
A SWIFT/BIC (Bank Identifier Code) is an 8 or 11-character code, defined by ISO 9362, used to identify a specific bank — and optionally a specific branch — for international wire transfers and interbank messaging. It's made up of a 4-letter bank code, a 2-letter ISO 3166-1 country code, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code (which defaults to "XXX" for the head office when omitted).
The validator strips whitespace, verifies the 8 or 11-character format (letters for the bank code, alphanumeric for the location and branch segments), decodes each segment, and cross-checks the embedded country code against the full ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 list — flagging codes that don't correspond to any real country.
Use this to verify a SWIFT/BIC code collected for an international wire transfer, to debug why a code is being rejected by a payment form, to decode which bank and country a BIC belongs to, or to check whether a code refers to a bank's head office or a specific branch.
Instant, fully client-side validation with no data ever leaving your browser. Note this checks structural validity and country-code plausibility only — it does not confirm the BIC is actually registered to a real bank, which requires access to the official SWIFT BIC directory.
Key Features
- Validates both the 8-character (head office) and 11-character (branch) formats
- Decodes bank code, country, location code, and branch code
- Cross-checks the country segment against the full ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 list
- Flags whether the code refers to a head office or a specific branch
- Clear error messages for each failure mode
- 100% browser-based, no data ever transmitted
FAQ
SWIFT/BIC Validator — Frequently Asked Questions
What is a SWIFT code or BIC?
SWIFT code and BIC (Bank Identifier Code) refer to the same thing: an 8 or 11-character code, standardized as ISO 9362, that uniquely identifies a bank (and optionally a specific branch) for international wire transfers, SWIFT network messaging, and correspondent banking.
What's the difference between an 8-character and 11-character BIC?
An 8-character BIC identifies a bank's head office. An 11-character BIC adds a 3-character branch code identifying a specific branch. When a branch code isn't specified, it's conventionally treated as "XXX", meaning the head office — this validator does the same when you enter an 8-character code.
How do I find the bank and country from a SWIFT/BIC code?
Characters 1-4 are the bank code (a short alphabetic identifier for the bank itself), characters 5-6 are the ISO 3166-1 country code, characters 7-8 are a location code assigned by SWIFT, and characters 9-11 (if present) identify the branch.
Why does my SWIFT/BIC code fail validation?
The most common causes are an incorrect length (must be exactly 8 or 11 characters), letters where digits are expected or vice versa in the wrong position, or a country code that doesn't correspond to a real ISO 3166-1 country — often from a typo in positions 5-6.
Is a SWIFT code the same as an IBAN?
No. A SWIFT/BIC identifies the bank (and branch) that should receive a payment, while an IBAN identifies the specific account within that bank. International wire transfers typically require both: the IBAN to route to the right account, and the SWIFT/BIC to route to the right bank.
Tips
- Strip spaces before validating — some documents format BICs with a trailing space where the branch code would go
- If you only have 8 characters, that refers to the bank's head office — this is completely normal and doesn't need a branch code appended
- The location code (characters 7-8) is not a free choice — it's assigned by SWIFT and doesn't follow a simple derivable pattern
- This validator never sends your SWIFT/BIC code anywhere — everything is checked entirely in your browser
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