Validate IBAN Numbers and SWIFT/BIC Codes Instantly
The IBAN & SWIFT Validator checks International Bank Account Numbers for structural correctness and mathematical validity using the ISO 7064 mod-97 checksum algorithm. It also parses SWIFT/BIC codes to reveal bank, country, location, and branch identifiers. All processing happens client-side for maximum privacy.
Why Validate IBANs Before a Transfer?
An invalid IBAN can delay international payments by days or cause funds to be rejected by the receiving bank. The mod-97 checksum catches over 98% of common typographical errors including swapped digits, missing characters, and incorrect country codes. Developers integrating payment APIs, finance teams processing payroll across borders, and anyone managing cross-currency transfers benefit from pre-validation before submission.
Understanding SWIFT/BIC Code Structure
A SWIFT/BIC code is composed of a 4-letter bank identifier (e.g., BOFA for Bank of America), a 2-letter country code (US for the United States), a 2-character location code (3N for New York), and an optional 3-character branch code. The branch code defaults to XXX (head office) when omitted. Knowing how to decode these lets you verify that a SWIFT code matches the expected bank and country before initiating a transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What is an IBAN and why do I need to validate it?
IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It is a standardized format for bank account numbers used across national borders, primarily in Europe and surrounding regions. Validating an IBAN ensures it has the correct length for its country and passes the mod-97 checksum, preventing failed international transfers or payment delays due to typos.
Q:How does the mod-97 IBAN checksum work?
The mod-97 algorithm moves the first four characters (country code and check digits) to the end of the IBAN, converts all letters to numbers (A=10 through Z=35), and computes the remainder when divided by 97. A valid IBAN produces a remainder of 1. This mathematical check catches common data-entry errors like transposed digits or mistyped characters.
Q:What is the difference between SWIFT, BIC, and IBAN?
SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and BIC (Bank Identifier Code) are the same thing -- an 8 or 11 character code that identifies a specific bank or branch globally. An IBAN identifies an individual bank account, not just the bank. For an international transfer you typically need both: the recipient's IBAN for the account and the SWIFT/BIC for the bank routing.
Q:Can I use this tool for any country's IBAN?
Yes. The validator checks structural rules for countries we have length data on (80+ countries), and runs the universal mod-97 checksum on every IBAN regardless of country. Even if we don't have specific format data for parsing, the mathematical validity check always works. You can paste any IBAN from any country and it will verify the checksum.
Q:Is my data safe when using this validator?
Yes. Everything runs client-side in your browser using JavaScript. No IBAN numbers or SWIFT codes are sent to any server. The page works offline after the initial load. Your financial data never leaves your device, making this safe for testing both live and test account numbers.