Home SWIFT/BIC code Chile
Chile SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code CL in positions 5-6
- Example
- BCHICLRM
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + CL (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 — Chile's largest banks share the location code RM, for the Región Metropolitana de Santiago
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read CL, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}CL[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Chilean SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Chile. Every Chilean BIC has CL fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks share the location code RM — short for Región Metropolitana de Santiago, the administrative region rather than the city name itself, a naming quirk that sets Chilean BICs apart from countries that use a city-initial location code.
Major Chilean bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Banco de Chile | BCHICLRM | Santiago (RM) |
| Santander Chile | BSCHCLRM | Santiago (RM) |
| BancoEstado | BECHCLRM | Santiago (RM) |
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 CL, and the location and optional branch segments use only letters and digits — entirely client-side, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code fits the Chilean BIC pattern, not that BCHI, BSCH, or BECH still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC has no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still passes.
Scope: format validation only, and only for the SWIFT/BIC used on cross-border transfers — it does not check a domestic Chilean account or RUT-linked transfer code.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Chilean bank?
A Chilean BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, CL fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example BCHICLRM for Banco de Chile's head office.
Why do Chilean BICs end in RM instead of a city abbreviation?
RM stands for the Región Metropolitana de Santiago, the administrative region covering the capital — Chile's largest banks use this regional code rather than a city-specific one, since Santiago sits within it.
Does an 8-character code work for a Chilean bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the same head office and are accepted interchangeably on international wire instructions.