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Iceland SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code IS in positions 5-6
- Example
- NBIIISRE
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + IS (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 Reykjavik — banks share RE as the location code
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read IS, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}IS[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$An Icelandic SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Iceland, working alongside the domestic Icelandic IBAN that identifies the account itself. Every Icelandic BIC has IS fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s major banks anchor their SWIFT head office in Reykjavik.
Major Icelandic bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Landsbankinn | NBIIISRE | Reykjavik |
| Íslandsbanki | GLITISRE | Reykjavik |
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 IS, 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 Icelandic BIC pattern, not that NBII or GLIT 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 Icelandic IBAN entered on the same form is valid.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for an Icelandic bank?
An Icelandic BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, IS fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example NBIIISRE for Landsbankinn.
Why does Íslandsbanki's BIC start with GLIT?
GLIT is a legacy code from Glitnir Bank, Íslandsbanki's name before its 2009 restructuring — banks commonly keep an existing BIC after a rename rather than register a new one, since the code identifies the institution's SWIFT membership, not its trading name.
Does an 8-character code work for an Icelandic 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.