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United States SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code US in positions 5-6
- Example
- CHASUS33
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + US (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 New York
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read US, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}US[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A US SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank receiving an international wire transfer — separate from the 9-digit ABA routing number US banks use for domestic ACH transfers and check clearing. Every US BIC carries US fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest money-center banks register their SWIFT head office in New York, the country’s financial hub.
Major US bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase | CHASUS33 | New York |
| Citibank | CITIUS33 | New York |
| Bank of America | BOFAUS3N | New York |
| Wells Fargo | WFBIUS6S | San Francisco |
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 US, 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 US BIC pattern, not that CHAS, CITI, BOFA, or WFBI still names an operating bank, or that the location/branch suffix is current. A BIC carries no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still passes.
Scope: format validation only, and only for the SWIFT/BIC used on international wires — a correctly formatted BIC says nothing about whether a routing number entered alongside it on the same form is valid.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a US bank?
A US BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, US fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example CHASUS33 for JPMorgan Chase's New York head office.
Is a SWIFT/BIC code the same as a US routing number?
No. A 9-digit ABA routing number identifies a bank for domestic transfers (ACH, wires, checks) within the United States; the SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank for incoming international wires. US banks carry both, and a form asking for one won't accept the other.
Does an 8-character code work for a US bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the bank's primary office and are accepted interchangeably on international wire instructions.