SWIFT Code Lookup — Find Any Bank’s BIC Code Instantly

What is a SWIFT code? (SWIFT code lookup basics)

A SWIFT code (also called a BIC, Business Identifier Code) is an 8- or 11-character bank identifier used for international transfers. It is defined by the ISO 9362 standard and assigned through the SWIFT network, the cooperative messaging system that banks use to send cross-border payment instructions. When you run a SWIFT code lookup, you are decoding this identifier to find out which bank, country, and office it points to.

Positions 1–4 are the bank code, 5–6 the ISO country code, 7–8 the location code, and 9–11 an optional branch code. Payment forms, invoices, and remittance instructions ask for it so funds clear to the correct institution abroad. A SWIFT code lookup is the fastest way to confirm each part before you wire money.

This free SWIFT code finder covers head-office BICs for major banks worldwide. Use it to look up a code by bank name, filter by country, or decode a BIC you already have — useful when filling wire forms, checking an invoice, validating integration test data, or reconciling an incoming payment.

How to run a SWIFT code lookup

A SWIFT code lookup takes a few seconds and runs entirely in your browser. Follow these steps to find or decode any BIC:

1. Type the bank name (e.g. HSBC) or paste a BIC into the search field above.
2. Optionally narrow results with the country filter to focus on one region.
3. Copy the BIC from the results, or open a country page for a full regional list.
4. If you pasted an 8- or 11-character code, read the decoded bank, country, location, and branch fields.
5. Confirm the code with the receiving bank before you initiate a wire.

SWIFT code structure: a visual SWIFT code lookup

A BIC is read left to right in four blocks. The diagram below shows how an 11-character SWIFT code splits into bank, country, location, and branch. Use this breakdown together with the SWIFT code lookup above to verify each part of a code you receive.

An 8-character code (BIC8) omits the branch block and points to the head office. An 11-character code (BIC11) adds the branch. When a SWIFT code lookup returns XXX as the branch, the code is the primary office, not a missing value.

SWIFT code lookup: bank code examples

The fastest way to learn the format is to decode real BICs. The table below shows well-known bank codes you can verify with the SWIFT code lookup above. Notice how the first four letters usually echo the bank name, the next two match the country, and the location code identifies the city or processing center.

Each row is a head-office BIC. For a specific branch, append the three-character branch code — for example, DEUTDEFFXXX for Deutsche Bank’s primary office in Frankfurt. Run any of these through the SWIFT code lookup to see the full decoded breakdown.

When to use a SWIFT code lookup

A SWIFT code lookup is useful well beyond wiring money. Common situations where decoding a BIC saves time and prevents errors:

• Sending an international wire — confirm the receiving bank’s BIC before you submit a transfer form, so the payment is not returned or delayed.
• Receiving a payment — give the sender your bank’s SWIFT code so the funds route to the correct institution and branch.
• Verifying an invoice — check that the BIC printed on an invoice matches the named bank before paying, a quick anti-fraud step.
• Reconciling a transaction — decode a BIC from a bank statement to identify the bank and country behind an unfamiliar credit.
• Testing payment integration — use realistic BICs in sandbox or QA data, then validate them with the SWIFT code lookup.
• Filling out forms — many payroll, tax, and vendor onboarding forms ask for a BIC; look it up instead of guessing.

Common SWIFT code lookup mistakes to avoid

Most failed SWIFT code lookups come from a small set of avoidable mistakes. Keep these in mind before you wire money:

• Confusing a BIC with an IBAN. A BIC identifies the bank; an IBAN identifies the account. You usually need both for a cross-border transfer.
• Dropping the branch code by mistake. If a form asks for 11 characters, append XXX to an 8-character BIC rather than leaving the field short.
• Using a brand name instead of the legal bank name. Search “MUFG Bank”, not just “MUFG”, for the most reliable SWIFT code lookup result.
• Ignoring the country filter. Two banks in different countries can share a similar name; narrow by country to avoid picking the wrong one.
• Trusting an old code. Banks merge and rebrand, so a BIC from an old statement may be stale. Re-run the SWIFT code lookup and confirm with the bank.
• Skipping confirmation. Always verify the final code with the receiving bank before sending funds; a wrong BIC can delay or misroute a wire.

SWIFT code lookup FAQ

What does SWIFT code stand for?

SWIFT is the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, the cooperative that runs the global messaging network banks use to send cross-border payment instructions. A SWIFT code (also called a BIC, Business Identifier Code) uniquely identifies a bank so international wires reach the right institution. Our SWIFT code lookup tool reads these codes directly from the ISO 9362 registry so you can decode any BIC in seconds.

How do I find my bank’s SWIFT / BIC code?

Run a SWIFT code lookup by bank name or country in the finder above, or paste an 8- or 11-character BIC into the search field to decode it. You can also find the code on a bank statement, inside your online banking app under account details, on the bank’s website, or by calling the receiving bank. Always confirm the code before sending money, because using the wrong BIC can delay or misroute a wire.

What is the difference between a SWIFT code and a routing number?

A routing number (ABA RTN, 9 digits) is used mainly for domestic US transfers such as ACH and Fedwire. A SWIFT/BIC code (8 or 11 characters) identifies banks for cross-border payments on the SWIFT network. US accounts often need both: a routing number for domestic ACH/wires, and a SWIFT code for international wires. Our SWIFT code lookup focuses on the international identifier; for US domestic routing, ask your bank for the ABA RTN.

SWIFT code vs BIC — are they the same?

Yes in practice. BIC is the formal name in the ISO 9362 standard; SWIFT code is the everyday term for the same identifier, because the codes are assigned through the SWIFT network. When a form asks for a BIC, enter the same value you would enter for a SWIFT code. Our SWIFT code lookup treats both terms as interchangeable.

Why are some SWIFT codes 8 characters and others 11?

An 8-character BIC is the bank’s primary (head-office) code, also called a BIC8. Characters 9–11 are an optional branch code (BIC11) that points to a specific office. XXX usually means the primary office, not a missing value. If a form accepts only 8 characters, you can usually drop the branch suffix; if it asks for 11, append XXX to an 8-character code.

Can you give a SWIFT code example?

DEUTDEFF is Deutsche Bank’s head-office BIC in Frankfurt: DEUT (bank) + DE (Germany) + FF (Frankfurt). An 11-character form might append a branch, e.g. DEUTDEFFXXX for the primary office. Another example: CHASUS33 is JPMorgan Chase in New York — CHAS (bank) + US (country) + 33 (location). Use the SWIFT code lookup above to decode any BIC you have.

Is a SWIFT code the same as an IBAN?

No. A SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank; an IBAN identifies a specific account at that bank. For an international wire you usually need both: the SWIFT code of the receiving bank and the beneficiary’s IBAN. Use this page for the SWIFT code lookup, then validate the IBAN with our IBAN validator.

Do all countries use SWIFT codes?

Most countries have banks that participate in the SWIFT network, but some regions use alternatives such as IBAN-only transfers inside the EU/EEA, or domestic systems like Fedwire and CHIPS in the US. Even where IBAN is mandatory, the receiving bank still has a BIC. Our SWIFT code lookup covers head-office BICs for 50+ major banks across the countries most commonly used for international wires.

Is this SWIFT code lookup free and private?

Yes. The finder runs entirely in your browser — no signup, no API key, and nothing you type is uploaded to a server. The bank dataset is bundled with the page, so lookups work even on a slow connection. There is no query limit.

What should I do if a SWIFT code lookup returns no result?

Try the bank’s full legal name instead of a brand name (for example, search MUFG Bank rather than just MUFG), remove spaces from the BIC, or pick the country first to narrow the list. If the bank still does not appear, it may be a smaller institution whose head-office BIC is not in our curated dataset — confirm the code with the receiving bank or check an official bank statement.