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France SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code FR in positions 5-6
- Example
- BNPAFRPP
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + FR (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, usually in Paris
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read FR, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}FR[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A French SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank behind an international transfer, distinct from the RIB (Relevé d’Identité Bancaire) details used for domestic French payments and distinct from the IBAN that identifies the account. Because FR sits fixed in positions 5-6 of every French BIC, right after the 4-letter bank code, a format check can confirm the country segment without any external lookup. Nearly all of France’s largest banking groups — retail, cooperative, and postal alike — register their SWIFT head office in Paris.
Major French bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| BNP Paribas | BNPAFRPP | Paris |
| Société Générale | SOGEFRPP | Paris |
| Crédit Agricole | AGRIFRPP | Paris |
| La Banque Postale | PSSTFRPP | Paris |
How this validator works
This tool checks the code is 8 or 11 characters, that the first 4 are letters, that positions 5-6 read FR, and that the remaining characters are valid letters or digits for the location and branch segments — all client-side, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code’s shape and country segment match the French BIC pattern — it doesn’t confirm BNPA, SOGE, AGRI, or PSST still belongs to an operating bank, or that a specific branch suffix is current. There’s no checksum digit in a BIC, so a fabricated code that happens to look right will still validate.
Scope: format validation only. Most French payment forms also expect the 27-character French IBAN alongside the BIC — that’s a separate check with its own mod-97 arithmetic.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a French bank?
A French BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, FR fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example BNPAFRPP for BNP Paribas' Paris head office.
How do I read a French BIC?
In SOGEFRPP, SOGE stands for Société Générale, FR is the country, and PP is the Paris location code shared by most of the country's largest banks, whose head offices cluster in the capital.
Does an 8-character code work for a French bank?
Yes, an 8-character BIC and the equivalent 11-character code ending XXX both identify the bank's head office and are accepted interchangeably on SEPA and SWIFT forms.