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Israel SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code IL in positions 5-6
- Example
- POALILIT
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + IL (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 — Israel's largest banks register theirs in Tel Aviv, the financial centre, rather than Jerusalem
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read IL, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}IL[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$An Israeli SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Israel. Every Israeli BIC has IL fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks all register their SWIFT head office in Tel Aviv, Israel’s financial and commercial hub, sharing the location code IT.
Major Israeli bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Hapoalim | POALILIT | Tel Aviv |
| Bank Leumi | LUMIILIT | Tel Aviv |
| Mizrahi Tefahot Bank | MIZBILIT | Tel Aviv |
| Israel Discount Bank | IDBLILIT | Tel Aviv |
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 IL, 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 Israeli BIC pattern, not that POAL, LUMI, MIZB, or IDBL 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 Israeli bank-branch-account number used for local transfers.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for an Israeli bank?
An Israeli BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, IL fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example POALILIT for Bank Hapoalim's head office.
Why do Israeli BICs use IT as the location code rather than JM for Jerusalem?
IT stands for Tel Aviv, Israel's financial and commercial centre, where the country's largest banks register their SWIFT head office — Jerusalem is the seat of government but not where Israel's banking sector is concentrated.
Does an 8-character code work for an Israeli 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.