Banking Branch Codes

SWIFT Code Database – BIC Database Finally Available For Sale

Until recently, SWIFT codes were hard to locate without paying thousands of dollars to obtain the full SWIFT code database  from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.

A new website located at http://bic-database.com has compiled a complete list and database on CD ROM with every SWIFT code / BIC code from 67 countries.

What is a SWIFT code? 

A SWIFT code is a unique identification code assigned to a particular bank or branch, in a standard format knows as the
“Bank Identifier Code” [BIC code]. 

These codes are used when transferring money, and messages between banks.

  Here is a sample Entry with a break down:
 

State City Bank Branch BIC / SWIFT Code New York New York Brown Brothers Harriman & Company Brown Brothers Harriman & Company :BBHCUS3IAQR

                 BBHC         |         US          |        3I          |         AQR
             Bank Code          Country        Location           Branch

First 4 characters – bank code (only letters)
Next  2 characters – ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (only letters)
Next  2 characters – location code (letters and digits) 
                     [passive participant have "1" as the second character]
Last  3 characters – branch code, optional 
                     ['XXX' for primary office] [letters and digits]

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So why get the SWIFT code database?  Until now, this database has only been available through SWIFT for thousands of dollars. This independently compiled database takes the hassles out of SWIF code lookup.

By having all of the data in one place, you can load the database as a text file or csv file into your existing application or website and use it with ease. Integration with any system or using it right from an Excel spreadsheet will increase efficiency when processing international or interbank business.

All SWIFT codes from 67 countries including the United States, Great Britian, Canada, China, Japan, Germany, France, Australia, Taiwan, Brazil, France, Korea, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweeden, Russia, and 50 other countries are in the database. 

The database costs less than $200 and was just compiled in August 2001, so it is completely up to date at the BIC Database official site - 

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