A Swift Code is nothing but a Swift number that works as a standard format for Business Identifier Code (BIC). The Swift Code is used for the identification of banks and financial institutes globally.
It talks about the location and the place. It can be referred to as an international bank code or a unique identification number. The code is used when there needs to be a transfer of money between banks globally.
It is used for internal remittances or wire transfers you make abroad. Banks use the Swift Codes to exchange messages; there is transparency in communication with the Swift Code or BIC code.
Understanding Format of Swift/BIC Code with Examples
A swift or BIC Code is an 8 to 11 digit code that helps identify the country, city, bank, and branch.
The format of Swift Code:
- Bank Code – It is the four letters that represent the bank. You can say it as the shorter version of the bank name.
- Country Code - Representing two letters of the country the bank is located in.
- Location Code – It is any two characters made from numbers or letters.
- Branch Code - Three digits specifying the branch.
Example - Axis Bank: Delhi - Kirti Nagar - Swift Code: AXISINBB250, the branch code here is 250.
Dena Bank: Mumbai - Dadar - Swift Code: BKDNINBBDDR, here the branch code of Dadar is DDR.
Why is Swift Code Required for International Money Transfer?
Swift Code is essential for international money transfer facilities. There is a network of banks globally that work according to Swift Codes. It gives the bank a unique identity, so the transfer process is easier.
With Swift Codes, the process of transfer takes less time. You’ll be able to send to more than 150 destinations in the world. Without the use of a Swift Code, your bank transfer may not get to the right destination.
How do I find a SWIFT code?
You can find the SWIFT code via:-
1. Bank Passbook/Account Statement - The swift code is usually available on the first page of your passbook. The paper statements that you get often have the SWIFT code as well. However, if you haven’t subscribed for a hard copy of the bank statement, or get it in your email as a soft copy, then you can log into online banking and view the SWIFT code on the account statement given there.
2. Bank’s Website - Most banks list SWIFT codes on their website for easy accessibility. It can probably be seen under the FAQs section about international transactions or separately under a dedicated segment for finding bank’s various codes.
3. Making a Call - You can call and inquire about your bank’s swift code through customer care or directly via bank tellers and employees.
4. Third-Party Websites - There are many third-party website’s which have SWIFT code listed for various banks. You can make a query on them to find it.
List of World Famous Banks with Swift Codes (Country Wise):
USA
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| BANK OF AMERICA | PMFAUS66 |
| CITIBANK INTERNATIONAL | CITIUS33CHI |
| REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA, INC. | RGARUS4A |
| CARLSON CAPITAL, L.P. | CLPTUS44 |
| CHARLES SCHWAB AND CO INC. | CSCHUS66 |
| BANK LEUMI USA | LUMIUS3NMIA |
| HSBC BANK USA, N.A. | MRMDUS33 |
| UBS AG STAMFORD BRANCH | UBSWUS33SFO |
| MORGAN STANLEY AND CO., LLC | MSNYUS33CTR |
UK
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| AON PLC | AONPGB2L |
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. LONDON | BOFAGB2UTSY |
| BANK OF INDIA | BKIDGB2LGLA |
| BARCLAYS BANK UK PLC | BUKBGB22BSL |
| BARCLAYS BANK UK PLC | BUKBGB22BSL |
| CO-OPERATIVE BANK PLC. | CPBKGB22TGT |
| HSBC UK BANK PLC | HBUKGB4BRTN |
| NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC | NWBKGB2LLDS |
| SANTANDER UK PLC | ABBYGB2L |
Singapore
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| ABN AMRO BANK N.V. SINGAPORE BRANCH | ABNASG2A |
| BANK OF TAIWAN | BKTWSGSG |
| BNP PARIBAS - SINGAPORE BRANCH | BNPASGSGONG |
| CITIBANK,N.A. | CITISGSGCC1 |
| CREDIT SUISSE (SINGAPORE) LIMITED | CSFBSGSX |
| DBS BANK LTD | DBSSSGSG |
| DEUTSCHE BANK AG | DEUTSGSGDIA |
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA | ROYCSGSG |
| WELLS FARGO BANK, NA | PNBPSGSG |
Australia
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| AUSTRACLEAR LIMITED | ACLRAUSS |
| BANK OF CHINA (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED | BKCHAU2AADL |
| BNP PARIBAS AUSTRALIA | BNPAAU2S200 |
| COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA | CTBAAU2S700 |
| MERRILL LYNCH EQUITIES (AUSTRALIA) LTD | MLEQAU2SMLT |
| NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED | NATAAU3308D |
| VANGUARD INVESTMENTS AUSTRALIA LTD | VGRDAU3M |
| STATE STREET AUSTRALIA LIMITED | SSALAU2X |
| WEIR MINERALS AUSTRALIA LIMITED | WMALAU2S |
Canada
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| BANK OF CANADA | BCANCAW2 |
| CENTRAL 1 CREDIT UNION | CUCXCATTWPG |
| SBC BANK CANADA | HKBCCATT |
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, TORONTO BRANCH | CHASCATTCTS |
| MERRILL LYNCH CANADA, INC | MLCICATT |
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA | ROYCCAT2CIC |
| THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA | NOSCCATTHFX |
| UBS BANK (CANADA) | UBSWCATT |
| WELLS FARGO BANK, N. A. CANADIAN BRANCH | PNBPCATT |
Germany
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| CACEIS BANK, GERMANY BRANCH | FMBKDEMM617 |
| DAIMLER AG | DCAGDE6S |
| DEUTSCHE BANK AG | DEUTDEDB390 |
| MORGAN STANLEY BANK AG | MSFFDEFXCNV |
| SCHWAEBISCHE BANK | SCHWDESSTGT |
| STATE STREET BANK INTERNATIONAL GMBH | SBOSDEMXFEX |
| UNICREDIT BANK AG (HYPOVEREINSBANK) | HYVEDEMMCAR |
| VOLKSBANK STUTTGART EG | VOBADESS |
| WELLS FARGO BANK INTERNATIONAL UC FRANKFURT BRANCH | PNBPDEFF |
New Zealand
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| ANZ BANK NEW ZEALAND LIMITED | ANZBNZ22102 |
| BANK OF NEW ZEALAND | BKNZNZ22800 |
| HARBOUR ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED | HAAMNZ2B |
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., NEW ZEALAND BRANCH | CHASNZ2A |
| KIWIBANK LIMITED | KIWINZ22 |
| TSB BANK LIMITED | TSBANZ22 |
| RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND | RBNZNZ2S |
| FORSYTH BARR LIMITED | FORBNZ23 |
| CRAIGS INVESTMENT PARTNERS LTD | CGIPNZ22 |
UAE
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| ABU DHABI COMMERCIAL BANK | ADCBAEAA |
| AL HILAL BANK | HLALAEAA |
| ARAB BANK PLC | ARABAEADABD |
| BANK OF SHARJAH, THE | SHARAEAS |
| CENTRAL BANK OF THE U.A.E. | CBAUAEAA |
| COMMERCIAL BANK OF DUBAI | CBDUAEADDER |
| DOHA BANK | DOHBAEAD |
| FIRST ABU DHABI BANK PJSC | NBADAEAADIB |
| SHINHAN BANK CO LTD. DUBAI BRANCH | SHBKAEAD |
Russia
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| 'RESO CREDIT' BANK | RETLRUMM |
| ALEKSANDROVSKY BANK | ITEHRU2P |
| AVANGARD BANK | AVJSRUMM |
| BANK LEVOBEREZHNY PJSC | LEVBRU55 |
| COMMERCIAL BANK 'RBA' (LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY) | IRBARU22MAH |
| FAR EASTERN BANK | FAEBRU8V |
| SBERBANK (BAIKALSKY HEAD OFFICE) | SABRRU66 |
| LOCKO BANK | CLOKRUMM |
| MORGAN STANLEY BANK | MSBKRUMM |
Italy
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| BANCA ALBERTINI S.P.A. | ALSSITM2 |
| CACEIS BANK, ITALY BRANCH | ISAEITMMFRA |
| CREDIT AGRICOLE ITALIA S.P.A. | CRPPIT2P655 |
| CREDIT AGRICOLE ITALIA S.P.A. | CRPPIT2P |
| UBI BANCA S.P.A. | BLOPIT22944 |
| UBI BANCA SPA | BLOPIT22A13 |
| VIVA PAYMENT SERVICES S.A. ITALIAN BRANCH | VPAYITM2 |
| ZUCCHI S.P.A. | ZUCCITM2 |
| VIVAL BANCA - BCC DI MONTECATINI TERME, BIENTINA E S.PIETRO IN VINCIO | ICRAITRR030 |
France
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| BANQUE CENTRALE DE COMPENSATION - LCH.CLEARNET SA | BACPFRPPRCP |
| BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES SERVICES, FRANCE | PARBFRPP |
| CBP GROUP | CBSPFR22 |
| COMPAGNIE DAHER S.A. | DAHRFR2M |
| CREDIT AGRICOLE | AGRIFRPPBRU |
| CREDIT AGRICOLE | AGRIFRPP831 |
| HSBC FRANCE (FORMERLY HSBC CCF) | CCFRFRPP |
| ONEY BANK | BACCFR22 |
| Societe Generale | SOGEFRPPLPA |
Kuwait
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| AHLI UNITED BANK K.S.C.P. | BKMEKWKW |
| CENTRAL BANK OF KUWAIT | CBKUKWKW |
| COMMERCIAL BANK OF KUWAIT KPSC,THE | COMBKWKWA66 |
| COMMERCIAL BANK OF KUWAIT KPSC,THE | COMBKWKWA62 |
| GULF BANK, K.S.C. | GULBKWKW |
| DOHA BANK | DOHBKWKW |
| FIRST ABU DHABI BANK (FORMERLY NATIONAL BANK OF ABU DHABI) | NBADKWKW |
| HSBC BANK MIDDLE EAST LIMITED | HBMEKWKW |
| QATAR NATIONAL BANK | QNBAKWKW |
Saudi Arabia
| Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|
| AL INMA BANK | INMASARI |
| BANK AL BILAD | ALBISARIDAM |
| BANKMUSCAT | BMUSSARI |
| DEUTSCHE BANK AG, RIYADH BRANCH | DEUTSARI |
| FIRST ABU DHABI BANK | FABMSARI |
| ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK | ISLDSAJE |
| RIYAD BANK | RIBLSARI |
| YANBU ARAMCO SINOPEC REFINING (YASREF) LIMITED | YASRSADB |
| SAUDI ARAMCO | ARAMSADH |
FAQs on Swift/BIC Code
1. Is a BIC code the same as a SWIFT code?
Yes, there is no difference between BIC Code and Swift Code. Both are made up of letters and numbers used to identify location, city, bank, or country.
The number helps to identify the branch and bank where the account is registered. Both the codes have to provide information when there is the transfer of money from one bank to another bank.
2. Is a SWIFT code the same as an IBAN?
No, Swift Code and IBAN are both different. A Swift code gives a unique identification to a bank during international money transfers. An IBAN or International Bank Account Number helps to identify the individual account in money transfer.
The IBAN is specifically used in many countries globally and can be up to 34 characters or more. The number includes letters and numbers both. Both Swift Code and IBAN are imperative for a smooth transfer of money and online remittances globally.
3. Is Swift code the same as Sort code?
Sort Code is used for domestic bank transfers in England and Ireland only, whereas Swift Code is used for international bank transfers worldwide. Sort Code can be used as a transfer for location within the country or city. Swift Code is for the safety of money and transactions internationally.
Sort Code has six unique characters, and Swift Code is anywhere between 8 to 11 characters depending on the location or country. Swift Code has both numbers and alphabets, but Sort Code has only numbers that differentiate both codes.
In Swift Code, the characters are divided into four different divisions, but this is not the case with Sort Code.
