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Italy SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code IT in positions 5-6
- Example
- UNCRITMM
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + IT (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, commonly in Milan or Rome
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read IT, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}IT[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$An Italian SWIFT/BIC code pins down the bank for an international transfer, with the country encoded directly into the code: positions 5-6 read IT on every Italian BIC, right after the 4-letter bank prefix. Italy’s banking geography splits along an interesting line — Milan is the country’s financial capital and where most major private banks base their SWIFT location code, while Rome, the political capital, is home to the state postal bank’s head office instead.
Major Italian bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| UniCredit | UNCRITMM | Milan |
| Intesa Sanpaolo | BCITITMM | Milan |
| Poste Italiane (BancoPosta) | BPPIITRR | Rome |
How this validator works
The check confirms the string is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read IT, and the location/branch segments only use letters and digits — entirely in your browser, with no data transmitted anywhere.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
Passing confirms the code is shaped like a real Italian BIC, not that UNCR, BCIT, or BPPI is still an active bank prefix, or that a location/branch suffix is current. SWIFT/BIC codes have no arithmetic check digit, so an invented code that fits the pattern still passes.
Scope: format and country-code checking only. Italian bank accounts also carry a 27-character IBAN with its own mod-97 checksum — a separate validation from the BIC.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for an Italian bank?
An Italian BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, IT fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example UNCRITMM for UniCredit's Milan head office.
How do I read an Italian BIC?
In BCITITMM, BCIT identifies Intesa Sanpaolo (from its legacy name Banca Commerciale Italiana), IT is the country, and MM is the Milan location code — Italy's financial capital, distinct from Rome, the seat of government.
Does an 8-character code work for an Italian bank?
Yes — an 8-character BIC and its 11-character equivalent ending in XXX both point to the bank's head office and are accepted on the same forms.