Home SWIFT/BIC code Jamaica
Jamaica SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code JM in positions 5-6
- Example
- JNCBJMKX
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + JM (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 Kingston
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read JM, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}JM[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Jamaican SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Jamaica. Jamaica doesn’t use IBANs, so the BIC works alongside the recipient’s domestic account and branch details rather than a single combined code. Every Jamaican BIC has JM fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s major banks anchor their SWIFT head office in Kingston.
Major Jamaican bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| National Commercial Bank (NCB) | JNCBJMKX | Kingston |
| Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica (Scotiabank) | NOSCJMKN | Kingston |
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 JM, 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 Jamaican BIC pattern, not that JNCB or NOSC still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC carries no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still validates.
Scope: format validation only, and only for the BIC used on cross-border transfers — it does not check the domestic account number entered alongside it.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Jamaican bank?
A Jamaican BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, JM fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example JNCBJMKX for National Commercial Bank Jamaica.
How do I read a Jamaican BIC?
In NOSCJMKN, NOSC is the global bank code the Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) uses across its Caribbean and Canadian operations, JM is the country, and KN is the location code for Kingston.
Is a SWIFT/BIC code the same as a Jamaican bank account number?
No. Jamaica does not issue IBANs, so a cross-border payment pairs the BIC with the recipient's domestic account and branch details rather than one combined identifier.