Home SWIFT/BIC code Cyprus
Cyprus SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code CY in positions 5-6
- Example
- BCYPCY2N
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + CY (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 in Nicosia
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read CY, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}CY[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Cypriot SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Cyprus, working alongside the domestic Cypriot IBAN that identifies the account itself. Every Cypriot BIC has CY fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks anchor their SWIFT head office in Nicosia, Cyprus’s capital and financial centre.
Major Cypriot bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of Cyprus | BCYPCY2N | Nicosia |
| Hellenic Bank | HEBACY2N | Nicosia |
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 CY, and the remaining characters follow the letter-or-digit pattern for the location and branch segments — entirely in your browser, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code fits the Cypriot BIC pattern, not that BCYP or HEBA 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. A correctly formatted BIC says nothing about whether the accompanying Cypriot IBAN entered on the same form is valid.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Cypriot bank?
A Cypriot BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, CY fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example BCYPCY2N for the Bank of Cyprus.
How do I read a Cypriot BIC?
In HEBACY2N, HEBA identifies Hellenic Bank, CY is the country, and 2N is the location code registered for the bank's head office in Nicosia.
Does an 8-character code work for a Cypriot bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the same head office and are accepted interchangeably on wire instructions.