What Is a BIC Code and Why It Can Become Invalid
BIC (Bank Identifier Code) is the unique identifier for a bank in the international SWIFT system. It consists of 8 or 11 characters: bank code (4 characters) + country code (2) + city code (2) + optional branch code (3).
A BIC code becomes invalid when a bank changes its status: merges with another institution, ceases operations, closes a specific branch, or changes its name. In such cases the old BIC no longer exists in the SWIFT registry, and any payment using it will be rejected.
Why It Happens
Bank merger. When two banks merge, one of the BIC codes is cancelled — all operations transfer to the successor bank's BIC.
Branch closure. If an 11-character BIC pointed to a specific branch that has since closed, the code is no longer valid. The primary 8-character BIC of the parent bank should be used.
Rebranding and licence change. A bank may receive a new BIC after changing its legal entity or completing a regulatory re-registration.
Technical updates to the SWIFT registry. SWIFT regularly updates its BIC registry — outdated codes are removed.
Input error. A single wrong character turns a BIC into a non-existent one. Errors are especially common when manually entering 11-character codes.
What to Do
Check the BIC in the official SWIFT registry. Use the SWIFT BIC lookup tool or services like wise.com/sort-code to verify the code.
Ask the recipient to confirm the BIC. Ask the recipient to get the current BIC directly from their bank — this is more reliable than searching online.
Check the beneficiary bank's official website. Most banks list their BIC/SWIFT code in the "Details" or "Help" section of their website.
Try the 8-character BIC. If you only have an outdated 11-character code, try the first 8 characters. This will give you the head office code, which is usually still active.
Contact your sending bank. International payments departments have access to current correspondent bank databases and can confirm the correct BIC.
Check national registries. In EU countries, current BIC codes are published on central bank websites and national payment association portals.
FAQ
What is the difference between a BIC and a SWIFT code? They are the same thing: "SWIFT code" is the informal name for a BIC code. Both terms are used interchangeably.
What is BIC8 vs. BIC11? BIC8 (8 characters) identifies the bank's head office. BIC11 (8 + 3 characters) specifies a particular branch. If BIC11 is not available, use BIC8 with the suffix XXX (e.g., DEUTDEDBXXX).
Can I send a transfer with the wrong BIC? The payment will either be automatically rejected by the sending bank or returned by the correspondent. The money will not be lost, but the return process takes time.
If you cannot find the current BIC or your transfer was rejected due to an incorrect code, Marix can help you structure your international payment correctly.