Boneyard Tools

BIC / SWIFT Code Validator

Paste a BIC or SWIFT code to check whether it is well-formed under ISO 9362 and see its parts. The code is uppercased and spaces are stripped, and validation runs entirely in your browser.

How to validate a BIC / SWIFT code

  1. Paste your BIC or SWIFT code. Spaces and lowercase letters are fine.
  2. Read the valid or invalid indicator that updates as you type.
  3. When valid, review the bank, country, location and branch codes.

Examples

An 8-character primary-office BIC

DEUTDEFF
valid: true, bank DEUT, country DE, location FF, primary office

An 11-character branch BIC

DEUTDEFF500
valid: true, branch 500, type branch

Frequently asked questions

What is the structure of a BIC or SWIFT code?

Under ISO 9362 a BIC is 8 or 11 characters: 4 letters for the bank code, 2 letters for the ISO country code, 2 alphanumerics for the location, and an optional 3 alphanumerics for the branch. So DEUTDEFF (8) and DEUTDEFF500 (11) are both well-formed.

What is the difference between a BIC and a SWIFT code?

They are the same thing. BIC stands for Business Identifier Code and SWIFT code is the common name for it, because SWIFT is the network that registers these codes. ISO 9362 is the standard that defines the format.

What does an 8 versus 11 character code mean?

An 8-character BIC refers to a bank's primary office. The extra 3 characters in an 11-character BIC identify a specific branch. A branch code of XXX also means the primary office, so this tool labels it as primary office rather than a branch.

Why is my code reported as invalid?

Common reasons are the wrong length (a BIC must be exactly 8 or 11 characters), a digit in the 4-letter bank code, or a country code that is not a real ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code such as ZZ. Fix the offending part and it will validate.

Does this confirm the bank account actually exists?

No. This checks the format and the country code against ISO 9362 and the ISO 3166 country list. It does not connect to SWIFT, so a code can be well-formed yet not assigned to a real institution.

Is my BIC sent anywhere?

No. All validation happens locally in your browser, so the code you paste never leaves your device.

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