Question 1

Do you still need a BIC?

Accepted Answer

Inside SEPA, most euro transfers no longer require one: the IBAN alone is enough. You will still be asked for a BIC on many international transfers, older payment forms and some payroll or invoicing systems.

Question 2

BIC or SWIFT code?

Accepted Answer

The same thing. BIC is the official name (Business Identifier Code, ISO 9362); SWIFT is the organisation that issues them, so the code is often called a SWIFT code.

Question 3

Why can’t a BIC be calculated from an IBAN?

Accepted Answer

An IBAN contains a national bank identifier, not the BIC. The two are linked by directories that each country’s central bank or payments body maintains, which is what this tool looks up.

Identifier	Primary BIC	Branch BICs	Status
55020500	BFSWDE33MNZ	— none published	Current
55020555	BFSWDE33MNZ	— none published	Current

SozialBank

BIC / SWIFT codes · 1

Bank identifiers in Germany IBANs · 2