Where can I find my SWIFT/BIC code?

You can usually find your bank’s SWIFT/BIC code in your bank account statements. You also can use our SWIFT/BIC finder to get the right code for your transfer.

When do you need a SWIFT/BIC code?

If you’re sending or receiving money internationally between banks, particularly international wire transfers or SEPA payments, you may be asked for a SWIFT code. SWIFT codes help banks to process transfers from abroad.

What is a SWIFT/BIC code?

A SWIFT code — sometimes also called a BIC number — is a standard format for Business Identifier Codes (BIC). It’s used to identify banks and financial institutions globally. It says who and where they are — a sort of international bank code or ID.

These codes are used when transferring money between banks, in particular for international wire transfers or SEPA payments. Banks also use these codes to exchange messages between each other.

Example of a SWIFT code

AAAA - Bank code

BB - Country code

CC- Location code

123 - Branch code

Format of a SWIFT/BIC number

A SWIFT/BIC is an 8-11 character code that identifies your country, city, bank, and branch.

• Bank code A-Z4 letters representing the bank. It usually looks like a shortened version of that bank's name.
• Country code A-Z2 letters representing the country the bank is in.
• Location code 0-9 A-Z2 characters made up of letters or numbers. It says where that bank's head office is.
• Branch Code 0-9 A-Z3 digits specifying a particular branch. 'XXX' represents the bank’s head office.

Where to find your IBAN?

It's important that you use the right IBAN code when sending money. If you get it wrong, your bank might send your money to the wrong destination, or it may charge you for an invalid payment.

You can usually find your IBAN number by logging into your online banking, or checking your bank statement.

It's important to remember that an IBAN being in the right format isn't guarantee that it exists. Or that it's the right IBAN for a particular account. You should always check it with your recipient or bank before sending or receiving a payment.

What is an International Bank Account Number (IBAN)?

International Bank Account Numbers (IBANs) are a way of identifying bank accounts internationally, allowing for international payments to be processed quickly. When you send money abroad, an IBAN identifies the recipient to ensure the funds reach the right account.

The system was initially developed for payments within the European Union and has now been implemented by most European countries and many countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is the formal registrar of the IBAN system.

Structure of International Bank Account Numbers (IBAN)

An IBAN consists of up to 34 alphanumeric characters, structured as follows:

CCKKBBBBBBBBBBBB...

• The first two 2 characters ("CC") specify the country code in ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 format. Only letters.
• The next 2 characters ("KK") specify the check digits, used to confirm integrity of the code. Only digits.
• The remaining characters ("BBBBBBBBBBBB...") specify the Basic Bank Account Number (“BBAN”). The format is decided by the national central bank or designated payment authority of each country. Both letters & digits are allowed.

Structure of a Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN)

The length of a BBAN can be up 30 alphanumeric characters.

However, each country will have a fixed length and comprise case-insensitive alphanumeric characters. BBANs normally include local bank routing information such as bank & branch identifier and domestic bank account number.