A SWIFT code — also called a Bank Identifier Code (BIC) — is an 8 to 11 character code that uniquely identifies a bank or financial institution during international wire transfers. It was introduced by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), a global cooperative that provides secure messaging between more than 11,000 banks across over 200 countries.

When you send money abroad, the SWIFT code tells the network exactly which bank — and often which specific branch — should receive the funds. Without the correct code, your transfer can be delayed, rejected, or routed to the wrong institution.

How a SWIFT Code Is Structured

Every SWIFT/BIC code follows the same pattern:

• 4 letters — bank code (e.g. HDFC for HDFC Bank)
• 2 letters — ISO country code (e.g. IN for India)
• 2 characters — location code identifying the city or head-office region
• 3 characters (optional) — branch code. XXX or no suffix means the primary office.

For example, HDFCINBBXXX identifies HDFC Bank's primary branch in Mumbai, India.

When Do You Need a SWIFT Code?

You'll need a SWIFT code whenever money moves across borders — receiving a salary from a foreign employer, collecting payments from overseas clients, sending remittances to family abroad, paying university tuition, or settling invoices with international suppliers. Domestic transfers within India use IFSC codes instead, not SWIFT codes.