SWIFT & International
SWIFT/BIC Code
A SWIFT code — also known as a BIC (Bank Identifier Code) — is an 8- or 11-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies a financial institution on the SWIFT network. It is the international equivalent of a domestic bank code, used to route payments to the correct institution and branch worldwide.
A SWIFT code is structured as follows: four letters for the bank code (e.g., DEUT for Deutsche Bank), two letters for the country code (e.g., DE), two alphanumeric characters for the location (e.g., FF for Frankfurt), and an optional three-character branch code. An 8-character code always refers to the institution's head office. When sending an international wire transfer, the sender's bank uses the SWIFT code alongside the beneficiary's IBAN to route the payment to the correct bank.
SWIFT codes are essential for international wire transfers — without the correct code, a payment cannot reach the beneficiary's bank. Entering a wrong SWIFT code can send funds to the wrong institution entirely. You can look up and validate SWIFT/BIC codes with BankCheck to confirm the code matches the intended bank and branch before initiating a transfer.
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