Home SWIFT/BIC code New Zealand
New Zealand SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code NZ in positions 5-6
- Example
- ANZBNZ22
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + NZ (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 — New Zealand's major banks register theirs in Auckland, the financial centre, rather than the capital Wellington
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read NZ, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}NZ[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A New Zealand SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer, separate from the 15- or 16-digit domestic bank account number New Zealand uses, which already bakes in bank and branch numbers of its own. Every New Zealand BIC has NZ fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s major banks base their SWIFT head office in Auckland, the commercial centre, rather than Wellington, the capital.
Major New Zealand bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| ANZ Bank New Zealand | ANZBNZ22 | Auckland |
| ASB Bank | ASBBNZ2A | Auckland |
| Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) | BKNZNZ22 | Auckland |
| Westpac New Zealand | WPACNZ2W | Auckland |
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 NZ, 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 New Zealand BIC pattern, not that ANZB, ASBB, BKNZ, or WPAC 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. New Zealand’s domestic account number, which already encodes bank and branch, is validated separately from the SWIFT/BIC covered here.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a New Zealand bank?
A New Zealand BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, NZ fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example ANZBNZ22 for ANZ Bank New Zealand's head office.
Is a SWIFT/BIC code the same as a New Zealand bank account number?
No. A New Zealand bank account number already encodes the bank and branch as its first six digits for domestic transfers; the SWIFT/BIC is a separate code used only for international wires and isn't derived from the account number.
Why is a New Zealand BIC's location code tied to Auckland, not Wellington?
Wellington is New Zealand's capital, but Auckland is its largest city and commercial centre, so the country's major retail banks register their SWIFT head office there rather than in Wellington.