No, SWIFT codes are not all the same; each code identifies a specific bank branch, country, and transaction route for international payments.
When you send money abroad, that short string of letters at the bottom of the form can feel mysterious. SWIFT codes sit at the center of cross border payments, yet many people assume every code from a bank works in the same way. That question, are all swift codes the same?, only sounds simple on the surface.
In reality, SWIFT codes follow a global standard, but individual codes point to different banks, countries, and sometimes even specific branches or services. If you want transfers to land in the right place without delays or extra fees, it helps to know what those characters mean and how much variation exists.
What A SWIFT Code Actually Means
A SWIFT code is another name for a BIC, or Business Identifier Code. It follows the ISO 9362 standard and gives payment systems a short, reliable way to tell one institution from another across the world. Each code uses a fixed structure so that software and staff can read it in the same way every time.
Most SWIFT codes have either eight or eleven characters. The first part points to the bank, the next part points to the country, and the remaining characters carry location and branch details. This layout keeps messages compact while still holding enough detail for accurate routing.
SWIFT Code Structure At A Glance
The table below shows how the standard SWIFT pattern breaks down and why each segment matters.
| Segment | Characters | What It Identifies |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Code | 4 letters | Short name of the bank or institution |
| Country Code | 2 letters | ISO country code where the bank is based |
| Location Code | 2 letters or numbers | City or region of the bank’s head office |
| Branch Code | 3 letters or numbers | Specific branch or department, optional |
| BIC8 | First 8 characters | Bank, country, and main location only |
| BIC11 | All 11 characters | Bank, country, location, and branch |
| Primary Office Code | Branch code “XXX” | Default office when no specific branch is needed |
Under ISO 9362, each code remains unique to one institution. A payment system does not just see random letters; it reads them as a precise route for messages and funds. The structure above is described in the official Business Identifier Code (BIC) standard, which SWIFT maintains.
Are All SWIFT Codes The Same? Common Myths And Reality
At first glance, SWIFT codes from one bank may seem interchangeable. You might spot a code on a statement, see another version on a website, and hear a third code from a friend who sends money to the same bank. That gap between what people see and how the system works leads straight to the question, are all swift codes the same?
The short answer is no. Each SWIFT code tells the network exactly which institution, and often which office, should receive the message. Two codes from the same bank can point to different branches, different services, or even different processing centers in separate cities.
This is why guides from major banks, such as the IBAN and SWIFT explanation from Bank of Ireland, stress that codes can be eight or eleven characters long and may include branch detail. The extra three characters are not decoration; they steer the payment to a particular office when that level of detail is needed.
Same Bank, Different Code
Think about a large bank that operates across several countries. The institution might share one brand name, yet it has separate legal entities for each market, often with their own SWIFT codes. A code that ends in one country code cannot stand in for a code that ends in another. The network treats those as separate parties.
Inside one country, things can split again. A bank may publish one general SWIFT code for retail work and separate codes for areas such as trade finance or securities, each linked to a different processing team.
Eight Characters Versus Eleven Characters
Another common source of confusion sits in the length of the code. A BIC8 points to the institution, country, and place of the main office. Many banks accept an eight character code for retail incoming payments. Payment systems can treat the main office as a default when the branch part is blank.
A BIC11, on the other hand, includes the three character branch segment. That extra piece matters when your counterparty needs funds to pass through a particular branch, subsidiary, or internal department. Some banks even ask customers to use one universal eleven character code that routes everything into a central processing hub, rather than branch specific codes.
Why SWIFT Codes Need To Differ
If every SWIFT code were identical inside a bank, the network would lose detail that matters for routing and control. Cross border payments often include several steps, from the sending bank through one or more intermediaries to the final receiving institution. Each step relies on clear identifiers.
Different SWIFT codes give banks room to direct messages through the right channels. A code may flag that a branch handles retail accounts, while another marks a desk that manages large corporate payments. When banks merge, move offices, or launch new services, fresh codes help reflect that change in the routing layer.
Regulation, Compliance, And Risk Controls
Regulators expect banks to know where funds come from and where they go. Distinct SWIFT codes make it easier to trace messages back to a legal entity and location. That detail helps with reporting, sanctions screening, and other checks that surround high value transfers.
Mistyping a SWIFT code does not always send money into a void, but it certainly raises the chance of delay. When a code does not match any entry in the SWIFT directory, the payment instruction is likely to bounce back to the sending bank for correction.
What Happens If You Use The Wrong SWIFT Code
A bigger risk comes from using a valid SWIFT code that belongs to the wrong bank or branch. In that case, systems may route the payment to the institution named in the code, where staff then need to reject or return the funds. That process can take days and may trigger extra charges on either side.
Near Misses And Partial Matches
Sometimes a sender uses the right bank but the wrong branch code. If the bank has set up a default rule, staff may still credit the correct account once they check the IBAN or account number. Even then, your transfer may arrive later than planned because manual checks take time and queue behind other work.
In other cases, a branch may have closed or merged, while its old SWIFT code still exists in some directories. A payment that uses that outdated code can route through legacy paths before it reaches the correct place, again slowing the process and adding scope for extra fees or questions from compliance teams.
How To Find The Right SWIFT Code
The safest way to pick the correct SWIFT code is to source it directly from the institution that holds the account. Many banks print their main code on statements, online banking pages, or dedicated information pages. Others include a code in the account opening pack and ask customers to use it for all incoming wires.
You can also search for codes using tools that draw on the official BIC directory, which SWIFT maintains. Some banks link directly to the free BIC search from their help pages so that customers can confirm codes for themselves. When you read a result, match the bank name, city, and country to the account holder’s details before you trust the code.
Checking SWIFT Codes Step By Step
| Step | What To Do | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Confirm Bank Name | Match the bank name in the code lookup with your payee’s bank | Prevents routing funds to a different institution |
| 2. Confirm Country | Check that the country code fits the payee’s bank location | Stops transfers drifting to the wrong country |
| 3. Review City Or Location | Check the location code and city shown in the search result | Makes sure the code ties to the right region |
| 4. Check Branch Detail | See whether the last three characters point to a branch or “XXX” | Tells you if the code is general or branch specific |
| 5. Match Against IBAN | Compare the bank and country from the SWIFT code with the IBAN | Aligns bank identifier and account format |
| 6. Use Official Sources | Prefer codes from the bank or SWIFT’s own search tools | Reduces the chance of outdated or copied data |
| 7. Double Check Large Transfers | For sizeable amounts, call the bank to confirm the code | Cuts the risk of delay fees or return charges |
When you cross check a SWIFT code with an IBAN and with trusted lookup tools, you give the payment system clean data to work with. The more accurate that data, the smoother the routing path for the transfer.
SWIFT Codes Are Not All The Same Practical Takeaways
By now, that opening question should feel less like a puzzle and more like a reminder to treat each code with care. The codes follow one standard, yet they vary from bank to bank and often from branch to branch. That variation is not a flaw; it is what allows the network to route messages in detail.
When you send or receive money across borders, treat the SWIFT code in the same way you treat the account number. Read it carefully, source it from the bank or a trusted directory, and match it against the rest of the details. Small checks at the start can save days of waiting later.
Quick Checklist Before You Send
- Use the SWIFT code supplied by the bank or the payee, not a guess from memory.
- Check that the bank name, country, and city from a lookup match your instructions.
- Note whether the code is eight or eleven characters and whether the branch part is present.
- Confirm that the SWIFT code and IBAN point to the same bank and country.
- For high value transfers, confirm details with the bank before you approve the payment.
Once you understand how SWIFT codes differ, international transfers feel less opaque. You know why two codes from one bank are not interchangeable and why length, country, and branch data all matter. That knowledge helps you answer the question in full and send money abroad with more confidence from start to finish.