SWIFT/BIC Code Lookup

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a SWIFT/BIC code?

A SWIFT/BIC code (Bank Identifier Code) is a globally unique code that identifies a bank for international wire transfers. Assigned by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) under the ISO 9362 standard, it is required for cross-border payments alongside the recipient’s IBAN or account number. Over 11,000 financial institutions in 200+ countries use SWIFT codes.

How is a SWIFT/BIC code structured?

A SWIFT/BIC code is either 8 or 11 characters long. The first 4 letters identify the bank (e.g., COBA for Commerzbank). Characters 5–6 are the ISO 3166 country code (e.g., DE for Germany). Characters 7–8 identify the location or city (e.g., FF for Frankfurt). Characters 9–11 (optional) identify a specific branch — XXX means the head office. An 8-character code always refers to the head office.

What is the difference between SWIFT and BIC?

SWIFT and BIC refer to the same thing. SWIFT is the name of the network (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) that routes international payments. BIC (Bank Identifier Code) is the technical name for the code format defined by ISO 9362. Banks, payment providers, and financial regulations use both terms interchangeably. You may also see it called a SWIFT ID or SWIFT address.

Do I need a SWIFT code for international transfers?

Yes. For most international wire transfers, you need the recipient’s SWIFT/BIC code along with their IBAN (in Europe and many other countries) or domestic account number. The SWIFT code tells the sending bank which institution to route the payment to. Some transfer services like Wise may not require it because they handle routing internally, but traditional bank-to-bank transfers always need a SWIFT code.

Need to validate a different format? Try the IBAN validator, the US routing number validator, or the UK sort code validator.