BIC Syntax Validator
Validate SWIFT/BIC code structure.
Overview
The BIC Syntax Validator checks whether a SWIFT BIC (Business Identifier Code) is well-formed according to ISO 9362. It confirms the length is either 8 or 11 characters, breaks the code into its four components and flags any character that falls outside the permitted alphabet for that segment.
Treasury teams reconciling international wires, fintech developers building payment forms and individuals double-checking a wire instruction from their bank all need a quick BIC code validator. The tool covers long-tail queries like "validate SWIFT BIC format", "ISO 9362 BIC syntax checker" and "8-char vs 11-char BIC difference".
How it works
A BIC is structured as four parts: a 4-letter institution code, a 2-letter ISO 3166 country code, a 2-character location code and an optional 3-character branch code. The institution and country codes must be letters; the location and branch codes can be letters or digits.
The validator runs an uppercase regex check against the full string then splits it into segments and validates each in turn. Whitespace and lowercase input are normalised before checking. The validator only verifies structure — it cannot confirm the BIC is actually registered with SWIFT, since the registry is not a public dataset.
Examples
DEUTDEFF → Valid 8-character BIC, Deutsche Bank, Germany, Frankfurt
DEUTDEFFXXX → Valid 11-character BIC with "XXX" primary-office branch
BNPAFRPP → Valid, BNP Paribas, France, Paris
DEUT1EFF → Invalid — digit in institution code segment
FAQ
What's the difference between an 8-character and 11-character BIC?
The 8-character form identifies the bank's primary office. The 11-character form adds a 3-character branch code; "XXX" is conventionally used when no specific branch is required.
Does a valid syntax mean the BIC is real?
No. The validator confirms only that the code matches ISO 9362 structure. To verify the code is actually assigned, look it up against the SWIFT BIC directory.
Are SWIFT code and BIC the same thing?
Yes, in everyday usage. "SWIFT code" is the informal name; "BIC" is the ISO term. They refer to the same identifier.
Why does my BIC have a lowercase letter?
It shouldn't. BICs are case-insensitive in practice but ISO 9362 specifies uppercase. The validator normalises input to uppercase before checking, so a lowercase paste still validates.
Can BICs contain numbers?
Yes — in the last 5 characters. The location code and branch code allow digits 0-9. The first 6 characters (institution + country) must be letters only.