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Portugal SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code PT in positions 5-6
- Example
- CGDIPTPL
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + PT (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, almost always registered in Lisbon
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read PT, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}PT[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Portuguese SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank behind an international wire transfer, paired with the 25-character Portuguese IBAN that identifies the account. Every Portuguese BIC has PT 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 Lisbon, using the location code PL. One major bank’s prefix is a direct legacy of Portugal’s 2014 banking-sector resolution rather than a name chosen from scratch.
Major Portuguese bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Caixa Geral de Depósitos | CGDIPTPL | Lisbon |
| Millennium BCP | BCOMPTPL | Lisbon |
| Novo Banco | BESZPTPL | Lisbon |
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 PT, 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 Portuguese BIC pattern, not that CGDI, BCOM, or BESZ 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. Portuguese transfers also need the 25-character IBAN, validated separately with its own mod-97 checksum.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Portuguese bank?
A Portuguese BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, PT fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example CGDIPTPL for Caixa Geral de Depósitos' Lisbon head office.
Why does Novo Banco's BIC start with BESZ?
Novo Banco was created in 2014 out of the 'good bank' assets of Banco Espírito Santo (BES) after BES was resolved by Portuguese regulators — Novo Banco inherited the legacy SWIFT prefix BESZ rather than being issued an entirely new one.
Does an 8-character code work for a Portuguese bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the same head office and are accepted interchangeably on payment instructions.