How a SWIFT/BIC code is built
- Characters 1–4: institution. Usually letters taken from the bank's name, such as ABSA or CHAS.
- Characters 5–6: country. The ISO country code: ZA for South Africa, ZW for Zimbabwe, GB for the UK.
- Characters 7–8: location. Identifies the city or region of the head office.
- Characters 9–11: branch (optional). XXX means the head office.
What our results mean
- Found in our directory: the code matches a bank whose code we read on its own website or an official central-bank list. We show that source and the date we checked.
- Valid format, not in our directory: the structure follows the ISO 9362 standard, but we can't say which bank owns it, or whether it's in use.
- Invalid format: the code breaks the standard, for example the wrong length or a country code that doesn't exist.
A correct format never proves a code is active or able to receive payments. Only the bank can confirm that.
Find your bank's code
Search our verified bank directory, browse banking by country, or check your bank's app or statement.
Questions
What is a SWIFT code?
A SWIFT code, also called a BIC (Business Identifier Code), identifies a bank or financial institution in international payments. It has 8 or 11 characters.
Is a BIC the same as a SWIFT code?
Yes. BIC is the official name in the ISO 9362 standard; most people and banks call it a SWIFT code.
What does XXX at the end mean?
XXX is the branch code for a bank's head office. An 11-character code ending in XXX points to the same place as the 8-character code without it.
My code says 'valid format' but not 'found'. Is it wrong?
Not necessarily. It means the structure is correct, but the code isn't in our verified directory, so we can't tell you which bank owns it. Confirm it with the bank or with SWIFT's official BIC search.
Can I find my own bank's SWIFT code here?
If your bank is in our directory, yes. The most reliable place is always your bank's app, statement or 'international payments' page.
Uncle Jetlag Global Banking is a free reference tool, not a bank or payment service. It can't confirm that an account exists, who owns it, or that a payment will arrive. Always confirm payment details with your bank or the recipient before sending money. Never share online banking passwords, PINs or one-time codes with anyone.