Home SWIFT/BIC code Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code SA in positions 5-6
- Example
- RJHISARI
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + SA (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, commonly in Riyadh or Jeddah
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read SA, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}SA[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Saudi SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Saudi Arabia, home to the world’s largest Islamic banking market. Every Saudi BIC has SA fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s major banks split their head-office location codes between the capital, Riyadh, and the commercial hub of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast.
Major Saudi bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Al Rajhi Bank | RJHISARI | Riyadh |
| Saudi National Bank | NCBKSAJE | Jeddah |
| Riyad Bank | RIBLSARI | Riyadh |
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 SA, 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 is shaped like a real Saudi BIC, not that RJHI, NCBK, or RIBL still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. There’s no checksum digit in a BIC, so a made-up code that fits the pattern still passes.
Scope: format validation only. Saudi accounts also carry a 24-character IBAN with its own mod-97 checksum — a separate check from the BIC covered here.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Saudi bank?
A Saudi BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, SA fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example RJHISARI for Al Rajhi Bank's Riyadh head office.
How do I read a Saudi BIC?
In NCBKSAJE, NCBK identifies Saudi National Bank (from its legacy name National Commercial Bank), SA is the country, and JE is the Jeddah location code.
Does an 8-character code work for a Saudi bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both point to the same head office and are accepted the same way on payment instructions.