Home SWIFT/BIC code Brazil
Brazil SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code BR in positions 5-6
- Example
- ITAUBRSP
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + BR (country) + 2-character location code, plus an optional 3-character branch code
- An 8-character code (or one ending XXX) refers to the bank's head office, commonly in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read BR, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}BR[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Brazilian SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer, separate from PIX, the instant-payment system Brazilians use domestically, and separate from the 29-character Brazilian IBAN some banks now issue for cross-border compatibility. Every Brazilian BIC has BR fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code. Most of today’s largest private banks base their SWIFT head office in São Paulo, Brazil’s modern financial capital, while Banco do Brasil, the country’s oldest bank, still lists Rio de Janeiro.
Major Brazilian bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Itaú Unibanco | ITAUBRSP | São Paulo |
| Bradesco | BBDEBRSP | São Paulo |
| Banco do Brasil | BRASBRRJ | Rio de Janeiro |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the code is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read BR, and the location and optional branch segments use only letters and digits — entirely in your browser, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code fits the Brazilian BIC pattern, not that ITAU, BBDE, or BRAS still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC carries no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still validates.
Scope: format validation only, and only for the SWIFT/BIC used in cross-border transfers — it says nothing about a PIX key or domestic bank/branch/account number.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Brazilian bank?
A Brazilian BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, BR fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example ITAUBRSP for Itaú Unibanco's São Paulo head office.
How do I read a Brazilian BIC?
In BRASBRRJ, BRAS identifies Banco do Brasil, BR is the country, and RJ is the Rio de Janeiro location code — a holdover from when Rio, not São Paulo, was Brazil's financial capital.
Does an 8-character code work for a Brazilian bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both point to the same head office and are accepted the same way for international transfers.