Home SWIFT/BIC code Canada
Canada SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code CA in positions 5-6
- Example
- ROYCCAT2
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + CA (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, usually in Toronto
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read CA, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}CA[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Canadian SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer. Canada has no domestic IBAN system — North American banks generally don’t use IBANs at all — so a SWIFT/BIC code paired with the recipient’s account number and routing details is what carries a cross-border payment into a Canadian account. Every Canadian BIC has CA fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and nearly all of the country’s largest banks anchor their SWIFT location code in Toronto, Canada’s financial capital.
Major Canadian bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) | ROYCCAT2 | Toronto |
| TD (Toronto-Dominion Bank) | TDOMCATTTOR | Toronto |
| Scotiabank | NOSCCATT | Toronto |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the input is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read CA, and the remaining characters follow the letter-or-digit pattern for location and branch codes — entirely in your browser, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the shape matches a Canadian BIC, not that ROYC, TDOM, or NOSC still names an active bank, or that a location/branch suffix is current. SWIFT/BIC codes have no checksum digit, so an invented code that fits the pattern still passes.
Scope: format validation only. For a wire into Canada you’ll typically also need the recipient’s institution and transit numbers — the BIC identifies the bank, not the specific account routing.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Canadian bank?
A Canadian BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, CA fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example ROYCCAT2 for RBC's Toronto head office.
How do I read a Canadian BIC?
In TDOMCATTTOR, TDOM identifies the Toronto-Dominion Bank, CA is the country, TT is the Toronto location code, and TOR is a branch suffix — TD is one of the few major Canadian banks that commonly publishes the full 11-character form.
Does an 8-character code work for a Canadian bank?
Usually — but always check with the recipient bank first, since Canadian banks are more likely than most to specify a particular branch suffix for international wires.