SWIFT Codes and BIC Codes

The term « SWIFT Code » is borrowed from the name of a bank association named SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication).

This association has set up standard identification rules to facilitate international transfers between or within countries.

The SWIFT association manages the BIC Codes records. The BIC Code is often assimilated into the SWIFT Code and vice versa. You can always find your BIC (or SWIFT code) on your RIB Information under different formulations. For example, for Crédit Agricole and Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP), with two differents formulations :

• BIC Code (Bank Identification Code) – SWIFT Code: AGRIFRPP847,
• BIC: BNPAFRPPTAS.

In France, most generally in Europe, the BIC code is rarely used for transfers. It is the IBAN identifier that is used, and this has been reinforced by the introduction of SEPA standards, which has now the IBAN become mandatory.

The BIC code contains either eight characters (Bank Code, Country Code, Location Code) or 11 characters (with Branch Code):

• Bank Code: 4 characters uniquely defining the bank,
• Country Code: 2 characters constituting the ISO country code (ISO 3166),
• Location Code: 2-digit location code (alphabetical or numerical) to distinguish banks in the same country,
• Branch Code: 3 optional characters define the bank branch (‘ XXX’ for the head office,’ NAN’ for a unit in Nantes, etc…).

When the code contains only eight characters, it is the bank’s national central office.

BIC Codes (Bank Identification Code) samples:

• BIC CODE de la BANQUE POPULAIRE VAL DE FRANCE: CCBPFRPPVER
• BIC CODE BOURSORAMA (Siège): BOUS FRPP XXX
• BIC CODE – SOCIETE GENERALE (Headquarters): SOGEFRPP
• BIC Credit Agricole Ille et Vilaine (35) department : AGRIFRPP836
• CREDIT LYONNAIS (Headquarters): CRLYFRPP

Note the particular case of the 12-digit BIC codes to identify endpoints in its network. These 12-character BIC codes are derived from the 11-character BIC of a financial institution, adding one character between the location code and the branch code, which designates the logical terminal (or local destination).

The SWIFT association’s website address, in charge of BIC codes, is Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. On our site, we will reference all BIC codes, french and worldwide.

SWIFT and BIC Codes by continent:

• European bank Swift Codes and BIC Codes,
• Asian Bank Swift Codes and BIC Codes,
• African Bank Swift Codes and BIC Codes,
• American Bank Swift Codes and BIC Codes,
• Oceania Bank Swift Codes and BIC Codes.

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The editorial staff of the Juristique website brings together specialists in law, human resources, and taxation. We regularly publish models of certificates, letters, contracts, and conventional salary scales to meet the needs of companies. We also publish articles on legal news and banking indices such as SWIFT codes and CNAPS codes for international transfers.

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