Detailed BIC/SWIFT Validator

Decoding a BIC: the four parts of DEUTDEFF500

A BIC isn't an opaque string — every character group means something. This tool splits a BIC into its ISO 9362 components and explains each. Take DEUTDEFF500: DEUT is Deutsche Bank, DE is Germany, FF is Frankfurt, and 500 is a specific branch.

The four fields

• Institution code (4 letters, DEUT): the bank, assigned by SWIFT.
• Country code (2 letters, DE): an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country.
• Location code (2 alphanumeric, FF): the city/region within the country.
• Branch code (optional 3 alphanumeric, 500): a specific branch; XXX or absent means the head office.

Hidden meaning in the location code

• Second character 0: typically a test/non-live BIC, not connected to the live SWIFT network.
• Second character 1: a passive participant in the network.
• Second character 2: often indicates reverse billing for the receiver.
• Letters elsewhere: a normal, live, connected institution.

Common pitfalls

• Don't send to a test BIC: a location code ending in 0 usually can't receive live payments.
• Country must be ISO 3166: a valid two-letter country is part of structural validity.
• 8 vs 11 are equivalent for the head office: branch XXX and no branch both mean the main office.
• Structure ≠ existence: decoding the parts doesn't prove the institution is registered.

FAQ

How do I know if a BIC is a test code? Look at the 8th character (second of the location code): a 0 commonly marks a test/non-connected BIC.

What does XXX mean? The explicit head-office branch — equivalent to omitting the branch entirely.

Can the location code contain digits? Yes — location and branch codes are alphanumeric; only the institution and country codes are strictly letters.