What is a SWIFT/BIC code?
A SWIFT code - also known as a SWIFT number is a standard format to uniquely identify banks and financial institutions globally. The SWIFT code is a standard format for Business Identifier Codes - commonly referred to as a BIC.
If you transfer money internationally you almost always need to use a SWIFT/BIC code, as it’s the way banks, financial institutions and money transfer services figure out where the money needs to go. You can think of a SWIFT/BIC code a bit like an international postal code. Your bank can use the BIC code to find another bank on the opposite side of the world. Similar to how sending a postcard to the wrong ZIP/postal code means it may get returned, the same applies for your money and an incorrect SWIFT code.
What does a SWIFT/BIC look like?
A SWIFT/BIC code can be either 8 or 11 characters long:
AAAA BB CC DDD
- AAAA: 4 character bank code. Only letters.
- BB: 2 character country code. ISO alpha-2 country code.
- CC: 2 character location code.
- DDD: 3 character branch code. This is optional and can be letters or digits. An XXX here would refer to the primary office.
More info about SWIFT/BIC codes
There are 2 types of SWIFT code: live and passive. Live codes are for financial institutions who are actively connected to the SWIFT network while passive Codes are used for manual transactions. Passive SWIFT codes will have a 1 as the second digit of the 2 character location code.
SWIFT code registrations and management are the responsibility of "Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication" (“SWIFT”) which is located in La Hulpe, Belgium.
SWIFT is the registered trademark of S.W.I.F.T. SCRL with a registered address at Avenue Adèle 1, B-1310 La Hulpe, Belgium.