SWIFT, BIC, IBAN, Routing Numbers and Sort Codes
Learn which code identifies a bank, branch or account in each payment system. Format checks reduce typing errors, but the recipient must still confirm that the details belong to the intended account.
Compare providers that can simplify international bank routing
Specialists often collect locally and pay out locally, reducing the need for the customer to arrange a full SWIFT wire.
Currencies Direct: Best Overall for International Money Transfers - 96% Positive Feedback from Customers, Since 1996
- Service Oriented - Specialising in Large Transfers - Friendly Dealers
- Very Competitive Rates, No Wire Fees
Xe: The Biggest Name in Currency Since 1993 - Fast and Effective Sign Up Process
- Superb Functionality All Around - Intuitive Online Platform, Smooth App, and Personalised Touch with Dedicated Dealers Above $50,000 Volume
- Global Company with Strong Presence in the UK
TorFX: Strong Guidance and Staff - HQ Outside of London - Lower Staff Costs Rolled Over to the Client
- Quick Onboarding Process and Highly Professional
- Trading Desk with 100+ Years of Experience
moneycorp: Oldest and Most Reputable Foreign Exchange Service - Providing FX Services since 1979
- Very Recognisable Brand with Excellent Reputation - £36.9bn in Transfers Annually
- Business Specialists
Key Currency: Well Known Currency Broker with Local Presence UK/Spain - Fastest Growing UK Currency Transfer Provider
- Strong Onboard Team, Get an Immediate Callback
- Recipient of Multiple Industry Awards
OFX: The Publicly-Traded Money Transfer Company from Down Under - Traded Publicly in Australia
- £20bn Turnover per Year
- Ultra Professional
FC Global Payments: New, Hungry, Driven - Excellent Client Support
- Industry Experience
- Young and Eager Company with Competitive Rates
Wise: Low-Cost International Transfer Wizards - Transparent fees and exchange rates
- Mid-market exchange rates with low fees
- Easy-to-use online platform and app
An IBAN is not a universal account number. A US routing number, Canadian transit number and Australian BSB serve different domestic systems.
A valid format does not prove account ownership. Check the code, recipient name, payment currency and account details as one instruction.
Learn which code identifies a bank, branch or account in each payment system. Format checks reduce typing errors, but the recipient must still confirm that the details belong to the intended account.
Which bank code do you need?
Start with the country and payment rail. The receiving bank or provider should supply the exact instruction.
| Destination | Typical domestic details | Common cross-border details |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6-digit sort code and usually 8-digit account number | IBAN and BIC for many international receipts |
| Euro area | IBAN for SEPA credit transfers | IBAN, with BIC or bank details where requested |
| United States | 9-digit ABA routing number and account number | SWIFT/BIC, routing number, account number and bank address |
| Canada | Institution number, transit number and account number | SWIFT/BIC plus domestic details |
| Australia | 6-digit BSB and account number | SWIFT/BIC, BSB and account number |
| New Zealand | Bank, branch, account and suffix in local account format | SWIFT/BIC and complete local account number |
Do not assume that a field labelled routing number means the same thing everywhere. A provider form should change its fields by destination. If it does not, ask support for the required format before sending.
SWIFT code and BIC: what the characters mean
BIC is the ISO identifier. SWIFT operates the network and reference directory associated with many cross-border bank messages.
Four-character business-party prefix
Two-letter ISO country code
Two-character business-party suffix or location element
Optional three-character branch identifier
SWIFT's current BIC policy describes an eight-character BIC made from a four-character business-party prefix, two-letter country code and two-character suffix. An optional three-character branch identifier creates an 11-character BIC. “XXX” often represents the primary office when the eight-character form is expanded.
A BIC identifies an institution or business party. It does not by itself identify the recipient's account. A payment can still fail if the account number, IBAN, recipient name or currency is wrong.
Banks merge, branches close and payment instructions differ by currency. Use the recipient bank's own instruction or the official SWIFT directory rather than an old list on a blog.
IBAN structure and validation
An IBAN combines a country code, check digits and country-specific bank and account information.
Country code
Calculated check digits
Bank identifier in this illustration
Country-specific branch and account structure
The example is a well-known demonstration format, not an instruction to send money. IBAN lengths and internal structures vary by country, up to 34 alphanumeric characters. SWIFT publishes the official ISO 13616 national IBAN registry and updated it to release 102 in June 2026.
An IBAN checksum can detect many typing errors. It cannot prove that the account belongs to the person you intend to pay. Use Confirmation of Payee or the destination's name-checking service where available, and confirm changed details independently.
Sort codes, routing numbers, transit numbers and BSBs
These identifiers route payments inside national systems and may also be requested for an incoming international wire.
Six digits identifying the bank and branch or payment service for domestic routing.
Nine digits used for US payment routing, with wire and ACH instructions sometimes differing.
A five-digit branch transit number is paired with a three-digit institution number.
Six digits identifying the Australian bank and branch for domestic payments.
A US bank can provide one routing number for ACH and another for wire payments. Use the instruction for the rail selected by the provider. For Canada, a form may request the institution and transit separately or combine them. Do not remove leading zeroes.
Specialist transfer providers often avoid asking the sender to build an international wire. The customer pays the provider locally, and the provider pays the beneficiary through a local account. The customer still needs accurate recipient details, but this can reduce correspondent-bank handling.
Verify the complete instruction before sending
Format, ownership, currency and purpose all need to agree.
Send a small test only when the provider and recipient agree that it will not disrupt the main payment or create extra fees. A successful small payment proves that a route can credit the account. It does not by itself prove that a later instruction has not been altered.
For mistakes, contact the sending bank or provider immediately and request a recall. Read bank transfer safety for UK fraud and reimbursement rules.
| Status | What to request | Likely next action |
|---|---|---|
| Provider has not received funding | Funding receipt and reference | Correct the reference or trace the domestic payment |
| Provider sent the payout | Transfer confirmation, UETR or bank reference | Ask the recipient bank to trace the incoming payment |
| Payment returned | Return reason and deducted charges | Correct the rejected detail before resending |
| Wrong beneficiary suspected | Recall reference and fraud report number | Contact the provider and recipient bank immediately |
For a SWIFT payment, a bank or provider may supply a Unique End-to-end Transaction Reference, often called a UETR, that helps participating institutions trace the message. A transfer confirmation proves that an instruction was sent. It does not always prove final credit to the beneficiary.
Do not resend a missing payment merely because the recipient cannot see it yet. Two live transfers can create a larger recovery problem. Trace the first payment, identify the failure point and correct the instruction before sending again.
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Money Transfer Comparison has reviewed international payment companies since 2014. Current legal, regulatory and product claims are linked to the organisations responsible for them.
Alon Rajic
Founder of Money Transfer Comparison, covering providers, pricing and customer use cases since 2014.
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Russell Gous
Former Barclays Corporate Banking professional and senior relationship manager at WorldFirst.
Read Russell's profile →SWIFT, BIC, IBAN, Routing Numbers and Sort Codes: common questions
Are SWIFT and BIC the same?
In everyday payment instructions, SWIFT code and BIC usually refer to the same ISO 9362 identifier.
Does every country use IBAN?
No. The US, Canada, Australia and several other markets use domestic account and routing formats instead.
How long is a BIC?
A BIC has eight characters, with an optional three-character branch identifier making 11.
How long is an IBAN?
It varies by country and can contain up to 34 alphanumeric characters.
Can I verify who owns an IBAN?
A format or checksum test does not reveal ownership. Use the bank or provider's name-checking process and confirm details with the recipient.
What happens if the bank code is wrong?
The payment may reject, delay or reach the wrong destination. Contact the provider immediately and request a trace or recall.
Confirm the bank details, then compare the route
A specialist provider may replace an expensive international wire with local collection and payout, but the recipient instruction must still be exact.