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China SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code CN in positions 5-6
- Example
- ICBKCNBJ
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + CN (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 — China's largest state banks all register theirs in Beijing, even though Shanghai is the country's stock-exchange hub
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read CN, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}CN[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Chinese SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an incoming international wire transfer, distinct from the domestic clearing numbers Chinese banks use with CIPS and CNAPS for transfers inside the country. Every Chinese BIC has CN fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and China’s four largest state-owned commercial banks all share Beijing as their registered SWIFT location, even though Shanghai hosts the country’s primary stock exchange.
Major Chinese bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) | ICBKCNBJ | Beijing |
| Bank of China | BKCHCNBJ | Beijing |
| China Construction Bank | PCBCCNBJ | Beijing |
| Agricultural Bank of China | ABOCCNBJ | Beijing |
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 CN, 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 Chinese BIC pattern, not that ICBK, BKCH, PCBC, or ABOC still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC has no checksum digit, so a well-formed but fabricated code still validates.
Scope: format and country-code validation only — it does not check a Chinese bank’s domestic CNAPS clearing code or confirm the branch is reachable on the international payment network.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Chinese bank?
A Chinese BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, CN fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example ICBKCNBJ for ICBC's Beijing head office.
Why do China's biggest banks all use the same BJ location code?
BJ stands for Beijing, where China's 'big four' state-owned commercial banks — ICBC, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Agricultural Bank of China — all register their SWIFT head office, even though Shanghai runs the country's main stock exchange and is often called its financial capital.
Does an 8-character code work for a Chinese 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 on international wire instructions.