Overview#

SWIFT code is a unique identification code for both Financial Organizations and non-financial institutions as defined in ISO 9362.

The previous edition is ISO 9362:2009 (dated 2009-10-01). The SWIFT code is 8 or 11 characters, made up of:

• 4 letters: Institution Code or bank code.
• 2 letters: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 Country Code
• 2 letters or digits: location code
  • if the second character is "0", then it is typically a test SWIFT code as opposed to a SWIFT code used on the live network.
  • if the second character is "1", then it denotes a passive participant in the SWIFT network
  • if the second character is "2", then it typically indicates a reverse billing SWIFT code, where the recipient pays for the message as opposed to the more usual mode whereby the sender pays for the message.
• 3 letters or digits: branch code, optional ('619' for primary office)

Where an 8-digit code is given, it may be assumed that it refers to the primary office.

More Information#

There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:

• BIC
• Bank Identifier Code
• Bank International Code
• Business Identifier Code
• ISO 3166-1 alpha-2
• ISO 9362
• Issuer Identification Number
• Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication