What Is My Bank's SWIFT/BIC Code? (UK BIC Finder)
Someone abroad wants to send you money and they've asked for your SWIFT code (also called a BIC). It's the code that identifies your bank internationally — and each UK bank has its own.
Pick your bank below to get its code, ready to copy.
🌍 UK SWIFT / BIC code finder
Barclays’s SWIFT/BIC code for receiving money from abroad:
Personal accounts use BUKBGB22 (your IBAN, confusingly, uses BARC).
To receive an international payment you’ll usually give the sender both this BIC and your IBAN — build yours with our IBAN calculator.
BICs verified against each bank’s official international-payments guidance in 2026. Some banks use more than one code across products, so the definitive BIC for your account is the one shown in your banking app or on a statement — check there before sharing it. Nothing you select here is sent anywhere.
What is a SWIFT/BIC code?
A BIC (Bank Identifier Code) is a unique code that identifies a bank in international payments. It's the same thing as a SWIFT code — the two names are used interchangeably.
It's 8 or 11 characters and reads in parts: the first four letters are the bank, the next two are the country (GB for the UK), then two for the location, and an optional three for a branch. If you're asked for an 11-character code and only have 8, you can usually add XXX on the end.
When do you need a BIC?
You need a BIC (and usually your IBAN) when money is crossing a border — someone sending you funds from another country, or you sending money abroad. For payments within the UK, you don't need it at all: a sort code and account number is enough.
BIC vs IBAN — what's the difference?
They work together for international payments:
- Your IBAN identifies your specific account (it contains your sort code and account number).
- Your BIC identifies your bank.
A sender abroad typically needs both. You can build your IBAN with our IBAN calculator, and get your BIC from the finder above.
Where to find your own BIC
The finder above gives each bank's main code, but the definitive one for your account is always in your own records:
- Your banking app or online banking (often under "account details" or "receive international payment").
- A bank statement — usually near your account number and sort code.
Some banks use more than one code across different products, so it's worth confirming yours in the app before you share it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a SWIFT code the same as a BIC?
Yes. "SWIFT code" and "BIC" (Bank Identifier Code) are two names for the same thing — the code that identifies your bank for international payments.
Is a BIC the same as an IBAN?
No. The BIC identifies your bank; the IBAN identifies your specific account. For an international payment you usually need both.
Do I need a SWIFT code for a UK bank transfer?
No. For payments within the UK you only need a sort code and account number. A SWIFT/BIC is for international payments.
How many digits is a SWIFT code?
A BIC is either 8 or 11 characters. If you're given an 8-character code but asked for 11, you can normally add XXX to the end to represent the head office.
Sending or receiving money from abroad? Pair this with our IBAN calculator and our guide to what bank details are needed to receive money.
BICs are verified against each bank's official guidance but can change — confirm the exact code for your account in your banking app or on a statement before sharing it.
