Data Sources & Coverage Register
Authoritative Data Provenance Register · Last Refreshed: June 28, 2026
1. Where Our Data Comes From
swiftbic.org maintains a dataset of 53,522 bank routing records spanning 204 countries and territories (built on 2026-06-28). We operate as an independent reference platform designed for fast client-side lookup and verification. It is essential for users and developers to understand our operational scope: swiftbic.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). We do not license SWIFTRef commercial data feeds, nor do we receive a real-time status stream from SWIFT or central banking authorities. Our dataset combines primary data extracted from official central bank publications in select jurisdictions with a broadly curated open community BIC directory licensed under the MIT license.
2. Coverage by Source
To maintain full transparency, our record counts and provenance percentages are calculated directly from on-disk record-level shard analysis across all 53,522 entries. The high-level distribution of record sources is summarized below:
| Provenance (Per Record) | Records | Share | Vintage / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bundesbank (official central bank directory) | 3,060 | 5.7% | 2026-06-26 |
| SIX Interbank Clearing (official Swiss administrator) | 585 | 1.1% | 2026-06-26 |
open community compilation (br99bry/swift-bank-codes, MIT) | 49,877 | 93.2% | 2024 |
| Total Active Reference Records | 53,522 | 100.0% | — |
Per-Country Coverage Detail
| Country / Territory | Total Records | Official Registry Records | Community Compilation Records (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany (DE) | 6,697 | 3,060 Bundesbank (+18 SIX) | 3,619 |
| Switzerland (CH) | 1,666 | 567 SIX | 1,099 |
| Austria (AT) | 834 | 0 (unverified) | 834 |
| All Other 201 Countries | 44,325 | 0 | 44,325 |
Note: Over 93% of our reference directory is community-sourced. German and Swiss country data contain a mix of official and community records. Austrian records currently derive entirely from community compilations.
3. Source Register
Every factual data claim or lookup format rule published on swiftbic.org relies exclusively on the registered authorities below:
S1 — ISO 9362 (BIC Standard)
Link: ISO 9362 Online Browsing Platform
Coverage & Scope: The normative international standard specifying the 8-character and 11-character Business Identifier Code structure (4-char institution, 2-char country, 2-char location, 3-char branch). Governs our validation logic.
Limits: Does not establish whether a specific code is currently active or operating on the live SWIFT network.
S2 — SWIFT (ISO Registration Authority for BICs)
Link: swift.com
Coverage & Scope: SWIFT is the designated ISO Registration Authority responsible for issuing BICs globally.
Limits: We do not license SWIFTRef or ingest a direct feed from SWIFT. Cited for organizational context only; no partnership implied.
S3 — Open Community BIC Compilation
Link: br99bry/swift-bank-codes Repository (MIT License, 2024 Vintage)
Coverage & Scope: Primary bulk reference source supplying bank names, city locations, branch labels, and physical addresses for 49,877 records (93.2% of total database).
Limits: Does not guarantee real-time registration, active clearing status, or historical continuity. Community compilation.
S4 — Deutsche Bundesbank Bankleitzahlen (BLZ) Directory
Link: Deutsche Bundesbank Sort Code Portal
Coverage & Scope: Official German central bank directory release (retrieved June 26, 2026), providing 3,060 verified German bank sort code mappings.
Limits: Does not cover the remaining 3,619 German records which remain community-sourced.
S5 — SIX Interbank Clearing Download Bank Master
Link: SIX Group Portal · SIX Bank Master API
Coverage & Scope: Official Swiss interbank administrator database (retrieved June 26, 2026), supplying 585 verified records (567 CH + 18 DE).
Limits: Does not cover the remaining 1,099 Swiss entries in our reference index.
S7 — ISO 13616 / IBAN Registry Specifications
Coverage & Scope: International Bank Account Number (IBAN) structure, length, check digit algorithms (MOD-97-10), and country masks compiled from published IBAN specifications.
Limits: Applies exclusively to /iban-validator/ and /iban/* account format tools. Not a source for BIC codes.
S8 — ECB & European Payments Council Reference Context
Link: ECB SEPA Infrastructure · European Payments Council
Coverage & Scope: Contextual documentation for SEPA scheme scope, euro settlement rules, and payment rails.
Limits: Contextual reference only — does not supply individual BIC routing data.
4. What We Do Not Have
In adherence to strict technical honesty, swiftbic.org explicitly documents what our infrastructure does NOT possess:
- No SWIFTRef Licence or Live Feed: We operate without commercial SWIFT contracts or direct automated SWIFT feeds.
- No Real-Time Network Status Stream: We cannot determine if a specific BIC is actively connected, suspended, or decommissioned on the live network today.
- No Official Central Bank Data for 201 Countries: Data for 201 of 204 supported countries is derived solely from our 2024 community compilation.
- No Official Austrian Ingestion: Zero of our 834 Austrian records contain official central bank provenance. Austrian central bank directories are evaluated but not ingested into shipped records.
- Superceded Documentation: Legacy documentation citing 53,522 records or unverified Austrian ingestion is retired in favor of this binding register.
5. How to Read a Record's Freshness
Every BIC entry in our search directory carries a record-level verified attribute. When inspecting an individual bank page or JSON record, official entries show their exact retrieval date (e.g. 2026-06-26 from Bundesbank or SIX), whereas community entries display their vintage (2024). Country-level footers provide aggregate summaries and should not be interpreted as a blanket guarantee for all rows within that jurisdiction. For further details on our data management and error reporting, explore our Methodology Manual and Editorial Policy.