Home SWIFT/BIC code Colombia
Colombia SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code CO in positions 5-6
- Example
- COLOCOBM
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + CO (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 — Colombia's biggest banks split between a Medellín-registered lender and Bogotá-registered ones, so the location code isn't identical across banks
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read CO, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}CO[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Colombian SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Colombia. Every Colombian BIC has CO fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code. Unlike many countries where every major bank clusters in the same financial-centre city, Colombia’s banks split between Medellín — where Bancolombia, the country’s largest bank, is headquartered — and Bogotá, home to Banco de Bogotá and Davivienda.
Major Colombian bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bancolombia | COLOCOBM | Medellín |
| Banco de Bogotá | BBOGCOBB | Bogotá |
| Davivienda | CAFECOBB | Bogotá |
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 CO, 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 Colombian BIC pattern, not that COLO, BBOG, or CAFE 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 Colombian account number or ACH Colombia routing detail.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Colombian bank?
A Colombian BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, CO fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example COLOCOBM for Bancolombia's head office.
Why does Bancolombia's BIC end differently from other Colombian banks?
Bancolombia is headquartered in Medellín rather than Bogotá, unlike Banco de Bogotá and Davivienda, so its SWIFT location code doesn't match the Bogotá-based majority — a reminder that Colombia's banking head offices aren't all in the capital.
Does an 8-character code work for a Colombian 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.