How to use it
- Paste the SWIFT or BIC code from the bank's details or the payment form. Spaces and hyphens do not matter.
- Read Result: green means the length and the parts are right, and the country code is a country name.
- If it is red, read the reason and compare the code with the original, character by character.
- Read Institution code, Country code, Location code and Branch code and compare each with the bank's own letter or website.
How a BIC is built
A BIC identifies a financial institution in messages between banks. The ECB's T2 glossary describes it as eight or eleven characters: a four-character institution code, a two-character country code, a two-character location code and, optionally, a three-character branch code. ISO 9362 defines the format, and SWIFT registers the codes.
8 characters: institution (4) + country (2) + location (2)
11 characters: the same 8 + branch (3)- The country code must be two letters that the browser names as an ISO 3166 country. A code it does not name is refused.
- The page does not say what a location or branch code stands for, because the sources it uses do not list those meanings.
What the check does not show
- A well-formed BIC does not show that the bank exists, is open or can receive payments.
- The page does not test the characters of each part beyond letters and digits. The character rules of ISO 9362 and SWIFT are not part of this check.
- A wrong code can send a payment to the wrong institution or be rejected, so confirm it with the bank before you pay.
Worked example: DEUTDEFF
The code has eight characters. The first four, DEUT, are the institution code. The next two, DE, are the country code, which the browser names as Germany. The last two, FF, are the location code.
There is no branch code, so the code is an eight-character BIC, and the page reports the format as right.
| Part | Characters | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Institution code | 1 to 4 | DEUT |
| Country code | 5 and 6 | DE (Germany) |
| Location code | 7 and 8 | FF |
| Branch code | 9 to 11 | none (8 characters) |
| Result | all | Valid format |
Frequently asked questions
What is a BIC?
It is the code that identifies a bank or other financial institution in international payments. It is also called a SWIFT code. ISO 9362 defines its format, and SWIFT registers the codes.
Is a BIC the same as an IBAN?
No. An IBAN identifies an account, and a BIC identifies the institution. Many international payments need both. The IBAN Validator checks an IBAN's account part and check digits.
Why does the page not name my bank?
The page checks the format and holds no list of banks. It can name the country, which is part of the code, but it cannot say which bank the institution code belongs to.
What does an eleven-character BIC add?
A three-character branch code, which the ECB glossary describes as identifying a unit, department or location of the same institution. An eight-character code does not name a branch.
Why is my code refused when the bank seems right?
Check the country code, the two characters after the institution code. It must be two letters that the browser recognises as an ISO 3166 country name, so a digit or an invented pair is refused.
Does the page keep the code I type?
No. The check runs in your browser, and nothing you type is stored or sent to us.
Sources
Figures and text last checked on Thursday, November 12, 2026.