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A SWIFT Code is a standard format of Bank Identifier Codes (BIC) used to specify a particular bank or branch. These codes are used when transferring money between banks, especially for international wire transfers. Banks also use these codes to exchange messages between each other.

A SWIFT Code consists of either 8 or 11 characters. An 11-digit code refers to a specific branch, while an 8-digit code (or an 11-digit code ending in "XXX") refers to the bank's headquarters or main office.

The format of a SWIFT Code is: AAAA BB CC DDD. For example, in BKCHCNBJ300:

- BKCH (Bank Code): The bank code consists of four letters. Each bank has a unique bank code, usually derived from the bank's name abbreviation, applicable to all its branches.

- CN (Country Code): The country code consists of two letters, used to distinguish the country and geographic region of the user.

- BJ (Location Code): The location code consists of two characters (letters or digits, except 0 and 1), used to identify the bank's location within the country, such as time zone, province, state, or city.

- 300 (Branch Code): The branch code consists of three characters (letters or digits), used to identify a specific branch, organization, or department within a country. If a bank's SWIFT Code/BIC is only eight characters without a branch code, it defaults to "XXX".

The registration of SWIFT codes is handled by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication ("SWIFT"), headquartered in La Hulpe, Belgium. SWIFT is a registered trademark of S.W.I.F.T. SCRL, with its registered address at Avenue Adèle 1, B-1310 La Hulpe, Belgium.