SWIFT/BIC Code Validator

SWIFT/BIC code: the international bank identifier (ISO 9362)

A BIC (Business Identifier Code), commonly called a SWIFT code, identifies a bank or financial institution worldwide. Defined by ISO 9362 and registered by SWIFT, it is either 8 or 11 characters: DEUTDEFF (8) or DEUTDEFF500 (11). This tool checks that the code matches the standard structure.

The BIC is what routes a cross-border payment to the right institution — paired with an IBAN (or account number) it tells the network which bank and where. It is not a checksummed number; validity is structural plus existence in SWIFT's directory.

The 8 vs 11 character forms

• 8 characters: identifies the institution's primary office (head office).
• 11 characters: adds a 3-character branch code; XXX explicitly means the head office.
• Same routing: an 8-char BIC and the same BIC + XXX reach the same place.

Where it shows up

• International transfers: SWIFT MT/MX messages and SEPA payments route on the BIC.
• IBAN pairing: many cross-border forms ask for IBAN + BIC together.
• Correspondent banking: nostro/vostro relationships are keyed by BIC.
• Mock data / testing: validating the ISO 9362 shape before a directory lookup.

Common pitfalls

• Format ≠ registered: a well-formed BIC may not exist — only the SWIFT directory confirms it.
• Uppercase, no spaces: normalise before validating; the country part must be a valid ISO 3166 code.
• BIC ≠ IBAN: the BIC names the bank; the IBAN names the account. Don't conflate them.
• SWIFT code = BIC: the two terms are interchangeable; "SWIFT/BIC" is the same identifier.

FAQ

Is a SWIFT code the same as a BIC? Yes — "SWIFT code" is the colloquial name for the ISO 9362 BIC.

Do I need the 11-character version? Only when a specific branch is required; otherwise the 8-character head-office BIC (or + XXX) is enough.

Does the BIC have a check digit? No — it's validated by structure and by lookup in the SWIFT registry, not arithmetic.