Xerobit

SWIFT Code Validator: Check and Split a BIC

Enter a SWIFT BIC code to verify its structure and see each component broken down. This swift code validator checks that the input is exactly 8 or 11 characters long, uses only permitted letters and digits, and contains a valid ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code. Everything runs locally in your browser so no data is uploaded anywhere.

Result

  • Valid
    Yes
  • Bank code
    DEUT

    Institution identifier

  • Country code
    DE

    ISO 3166-1 alpha-2

  • Location code
    FF

    City or region

  • Branch code
    (none)

    Implies head office

  • Length
    8 characters

How to use the swift bic code validator

  1. Type or paste an 8 or 11 character SWIFT BIC code into the input field.
  2. The swift code validator checks the result immediately as you type.
  3. Review the breakdown showing the bank code, country, location and optional branch.
  4. If the code is invalid, read the error message to see which rule failed.

Structure of a SWIFT BIC

A SWIFT BIC (Business Identifier Code) follows the ISO 9362 standard. It is either 8 characters (identifying the institution) or 11 characters (adding a specific branch). The layout is fixed:

  • Positions 1 to 4: Bank code. Exactly four uppercase letters identifying the institution.
  • Positions 5 to 6: Country code. Two letters matching an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code, such as US for the United States or GB for the United Kingdom.
  • Positions 7 to 8: Location code. Two alphanumeric characters indicating the city or region. A digit 1 in the second position historically meant a passive participant.
  • Positions 9 to 11: Branch code. Three optional alphanumeric characters. When omitted, the code refers to the head office. The value XXX also means head office.

Worked Example

Consider the BIC DEUTDEFF500. This swift code validator splits it as follows:

PartCharactersValue
Bank code1-4DEUT (Deutsche Bank)
Country code5-6DE (Germany)
Location code7-8FF (Frankfurt)
Branch code9-11500

The total length is 11, every letter in the bank code is alphabetic, and DE is a recognized country code. Therefore the BIC passes structural validation.

Common Validation Errors

When a BIC fails validation, the issue usually falls into one of these categories:

  • Wrong length: Only 8 or 11 characters are permitted. A 9 or 10 character string is always invalid.
  • Digits in the bank code: The first four positions must be letters only. A code like 1234DEFF will fail.
  • Unknown country code: Positions 5 and 6 must match an official ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 entry. Codes like ZZ or QQ are not assigned to any country. The exception is XK, which is not an ISO 3166-1 entry but is used by banks in Kosovo and is accepted here.
  • Invalid characters: Spaces, hyphens and special symbols are never allowed anywhere in the BIC.

This tool catches all of these issues before you attempt to use the code in a payment instruction.

SWIFT vs BIC Terminology

People often ask whether a SWIFT code and a BIC are the same thing. They are. SWIFT stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, the organization that manages the registry. BIC stands for Business Identifier Code, the formal name in the ISO 9362 standard. In banking practice the terms are used interchangeably. If a form asks for your SWIFT code, provide the 8 or 11 character BIC.

For validating other structured identifiers, you might also find the GUID validator or UUID validator useful when working with software systems that reference financial entities by unique IDs.

Reference Table of Common BICs

Below are several well-known BIC codes for reference. Always verify the exact code with your bank before sending funds.

BankBIC (8 char)Country
Deutsche BankDEUTDEFFGermany (DE)
BNP ParibasBNPAFRPPFrance (FR)
BarclaysBARCGB22United Kingdom (GB)
JPMorgan ChaseCHASUS33United States (US)
UBSUBSWCHZHSwitzerland (CH)

Worked examples

ExampleInputResult
Deutsche Bank FrankfurtSWIFT / BIC code: DEUTDEFFValid: Yes; Bank code: DEUT; Country code: DE; Location code: FF; Branch code: (none); Length: 8 characters
With branch codeSWIFT / BIC code: DEUTDEFF500Valid: Yes; Bank code: DEUT; Country code: DE; Location code: FF; Branch code: 500; Length: 11 characters
HSBC LondonSWIFT / BIC code: HBUKGB4BValid: Yes; Bank code: HBUK; Country code: GB; Location code: 4B; Branch code: (none); Length: 8 characters
BNP Paribas head officeSWIFT / BIC code: BNPAFRPPXXXValid: Yes; Bank code: BNPA; Country code: FR; Location code: PP; Branch code: XXX (head office); Length: 11 characters

FAQ

What is a SWIFT BIC code?

A SWIFT BIC is an 8 or 11 character identifier for a bank or financial institution, defined by ISO 9362. It encodes the bank name, country, location and optionally the branch.

Is a SWIFT code the same as a BIC?

Yes. SWIFT is the network that assigns them, and BIC (Business Identifier Code) is the formal standard name. Both terms refer to the same 8 or 11 character string.

Why does my BIC have 8 characters instead of 11?

An 8 character BIC identifies the primary office of the institution. An 11 character BIC adds a three character branch code. If the branch code is omitted or set to XXX, it refers to the head office.

Can a SWIFT code contain lowercase letters?

Officially BICs are uppercase, but most systems accept lowercase input and convert it automatically. This swift code validator normalizes the input to uppercase before checking.

Does this tool verify that the bank actually exists?

No. It validates the format, length, character rules and ISO country code. Confirming that a specific BIC is currently active requires querying the SWIFT directory or contacting the bank.

Is my bank data sent to a server?

No. The validation logic runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is transmitted over the network.