Home SWIFT/BIC code Malta
Malta SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code MT in positions 5-6
- Example
- VALLMTMT
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + MT (country) + 2-character location code, plus an optional 3-character branch code
- Malta's major banks happen to repeat MT as the location code too, so the letters MT can appear twice in the same 8-character BIC
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read MT, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}MT[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Maltese SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Malta, working alongside the domestic Maltese IBAN that identifies the account itself. Every Maltese BIC has MT fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks both use MT again as the location code, so MTMT appears at the end of their 8-character codes.
Major Maltese bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of Valletta (BOV) | VALLMTMT | Valletta |
| HSBC Bank Malta | MMEBMTMT | Valletta |
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 MT, 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 Maltese BIC pattern, not that VALL or MMEB 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. A correctly formatted BIC says nothing about whether the accompanying Maltese IBAN entered on the same form is valid.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Maltese bank?
A Maltese BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, MT fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example VALLMTMT for the Bank of Valletta.
Why does MT appear twice in a Maltese BIC?
The country code (positions 5-6) and the location code (positions 7-8) are assigned independently, and for Malta's largest banks both happen to read MT — one for the country, one for the registered financial centre — so the letters repeat by coincidence, not by rule.
Does an 8-character code work for a Maltese 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.