Home SWIFT/BIC code Finland
Finland SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code FI in positions 5-6
- Example
- NDEAFIHH
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + FI (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, almost always registered in Helsinki — Nordea moved its group headquarters from Sweden to Finland in 2018, so it is registered here
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read FI, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}FI[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Finnish SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank behind an international wire transfer, paired with the 18-character Finnish IBAN that identifies the account. Every Finnish BIC has FI fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and Finland’s largest banks all register their SWIFT head office in Helsinki, using the location code HH. Nordea, one of the Nordic region’s biggest banking groups, moved its official domicile from Sweden to Finland in 2018, which is why its BIC carries FI rather than SE.
Major Finnish bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Nordea | NDEAFIHH | Helsinki |
| OP Financial Group (Osuuspankki) | OKOYFIHH | Helsinki |
| Danske Bank (Finland branch) | DABAFIHH | Helsinki |
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 FI, 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 Finnish BIC pattern, not that NDEA, OKOY, or DABA 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. Finland uses one of the shortest IBANs in the EU, at 18 characters — a separate check with its own mod-97 checksum.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Finnish bank?
A Finnish BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, FI fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example NDEAFIHH for Nordea's Helsinki head office.
Why is Nordea's BIC registered in Finland when Nordea is a Nordic-wide bank?
Nordea relocated its group headquarters from Stockholm, Sweden to Helsinki, Finland in 2018, so its SWIFT/BIC — NDEAFIHH — carries the Finnish country code even though the bank operates across the entire Nordic region.
Does an 8-character code work for a Finnish bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the same head office and are accepted interchangeably on payment instructions.