What is a SWIFT or BIC code?¶

A SWIFT or BIC code identifies a financial institution in international payment messaging. It does not identify the customer account or prove the recipient's location.

The code marks one institution in a route¶

Customer destination normally comes from an IBAN, account number or reference. Correspondent banks may relay the payment, adding records, fees and timestamps. A code can therefore identify sender, receiver or intermediary rather than final account holder.

Obtain the full international chain¶

Preserve the code with accounts, amount, currency, reference and times. Ask the sending bank for the full payment message and intermediary details, then confirm credit with the receiving institution.

Explain which role the coded institution performed. Do not infer physical presence or ultimate beneficiary from the country or branch elements.