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Russia SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code RU in positions 5-6
- Example
- SABRRUMM
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + RU (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, typically registered in Moscow
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read RU, not that the bank or branch actually exists, or that it is currently reachable on the SWIFT network
^[A-Z]{4}RU[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Russian SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank named on an international wire transfer instruction. Every Russian BIC has RU fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks — including its dominant state-controlled lender — register their SWIFT head office in Moscow, using the location code MM. Russia also runs its own domestic financial messaging system, SPFS, as an alternative to SWIFT for transfers that stay within the country or between banks that use it.
Major Russian bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sberbank | SABRRUMM | Moscow |
| VTB Bank | VTBRRUMM | Moscow |
| Alfa-Bank | ALFARUMM | Moscow |
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 RU, 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 Russian BIC pattern, not that SABR, VTBR, or ALFA still names an operating bank, that the branch suffix is current, or that the bank is currently active on the international SWIFT network. A BIC has no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still passes.
Scope: format and country-code validation only — always confirm current SWIFT connectivity directly with the receiving bank before relying on a code for a live transfer.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Russian bank?
A Russian BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, RU fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example SABRRUMM for Sberbank's Moscow head office.
How do I read a Russian BIC?
In VTBRRUMM, VTBR identifies VTB Bank, RU is the country, and MM is the Moscow location code — Russia's largest banks are almost all headquartered there.
Does a correctly formatted Russian BIC mean the bank is reachable on SWIFT?
No. This check only confirms the string matches the RU bank-identifier pattern. It says nothing about whether that specific bank or branch is currently connected to the international SWIFT messaging network, which has changed for a number of Russian banks in recent years.