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Spain SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code ES in positions 5-6
- Example
- BSCHESMM
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + ES (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 Madrid or Barcelona
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read ES, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}ES[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Spanish SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international transfer, distinct from the IBAN that identifies the account. Every Spanish BIC carries ES fixed at positions 5-6, immediately after the 4-letter bank code, so the country segment is built into the format rather than needing a separate database lookup. Spain’s banking sector consolidated heavily after the 2008 financial crisis, leaving a handful of large groups whose SWIFT head offices split between Madrid, the capital, and Barcelona, historically Spain’s commercial hub.
Major Spanish bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Banco Santander | BSCHESMM | Madrid |
| BBVA | BBVAESMM | Madrid |
| CaixaBank | CAIXESBB | Barcelona |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the input is 8 or 11 characters, that the first 4 characters are letters, that positions 5-6 read ES, and that 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 only confirms the code is shaped like a valid Spanish BIC — not that BSCH, BBVA, or CAIX still identifies a trading bank, or that a location/branch suffix reflects a real, currently open office. There’s no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the pattern still validates.
Scope: format validation only. Spanish accounts also use a 24-character IBAN with its own mod-97 check — a separate step from confirming the BIC.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Spanish bank?
A Spanish BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, ES fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example BSCHESMM for Banco Santander's Madrid head office.
How do I read a Spanish BIC?
In CAIXESBB, CAIX identifies CaixaBank, ES is the country, and BB is the Barcelona location code — a reminder that not every major Spanish bank's SWIFT code points to Madrid.
Does an 8-character code work for a Spanish bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and the 11-character version with XXX appended are treated as equivalent, both identifying the bank's head office.