BIC (bank identifier code)

A bank identifier code (BIC) is a unique identifier for a specific financial institution. 

A BIC is composed of a 4-character bank code, a 2-character country code, a 2-character location code and an optional 3-character branch code.

BICs are used by financial institutions for letters of credit, payments and securities transactions and other business messages between banks. The identification scheme is managed by the Society for the Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT).