Home SWIFT/BIC code Switzerland
Switzerland SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code CH in positions 5-6
- Example
- UBSWCHZH80A
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + CH (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; Swiss banks frequently publish the 11-character branch form instead
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read CH, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}CH[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Swiss SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank behind an international payment. Switzerland sits outside the EU and outside SEPA, so cross-border transfers routinely lean on SWIFT/BIC codes even for payments that would use IBAN-only routing elsewhere in Europe. Every Swiss BIC carries CH fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code — and Swiss banks are more likely than most to publish the full 11-character branch form rather than the shorter 8-character head-office code.
Major Swiss bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| UBS Switzerland | UBSWCHZH80A | Zurich |
| PostFinance | POFICHBE | Bern |
| Zürcher Kantonalbank | ZKBKCHZZ80A | Zurich |
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 CH, and that the location and optional branch segments only use letters and digits — entirely in your browser, with nothing transmitted to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass only confirms the code matches the Swiss BIC shape, not that UBSW, POFI, or ZKBK still names an active bank, or that a specific branch suffix like 80A is the one your recipient actually uses. SWIFT/BIC codes carry no checksum, so a well-formed but wrong code will still pass.
Scope: format validation only. Switzerland uses its own IBAN structure (starting CH, 21 characters) alongside the BIC — validate both before sending a payment.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Swiss bank?
A Swiss BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, CH fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example UBSWCHZH80A for UBS Switzerland's Zurich branch.
How do I read a Swiss BIC?
In UBSWCHZH80A, UBSW identifies UBS, CH is the country, ZH is the Zurich location code, and 80A is a branch code — Swiss banks commonly publish the full 11-character branch form rather than the shorter 8-character head-office code.
Does an 8-character code work for a Swiss bank?
It depends on the bank — some Swiss banks accept the 8-character head-office code, but many, including UBS, expect the full 11-character form with a specific branch suffix, so check with the recipient before sending a payment.