What is SWIFT Code (BIC)?
A SWIFT code, formally a Business Identifier Code or BIC, identifies a specific bank, and sometimes a specific branch, in the SWIFT network. It is 8 or 11 characters long. The first four letters stand for the bank, the next two for the country (IN for India), the next two for the location, and an optional last three for the branch. Indian banks often have one main SWIFT code for foreign inward remittances, which may not be the code of your home branch.
Why it matters for exporters
When a foreign client pays by wire, their bank needs your bank's SWIFT code to route the money. A wrong or outdated code is one of the most common reasons a payment is delayed or returned. Some Indian banks ask that inward remittances go to a central treasury or trade-processing SWIFT code, with your account and branch details in the beneficiary fields, so check exactly what your bank wants you to share.
Put the correct code on your invoices once, then reuse it. Our export invoice generator has a bank-details section for SWIFT code, account number, beneficiary name and any intermediary bank. For a broader look at what to include, see bank details on an export invoice.
Example
Riya Illustrations, a proprietorship in Jaipur, sends a client in Ireland an invoice for EUR 1,800 with her branch's local code. The client's bank rejects it. Riya asks her branch, which gives the bank's designated SWIFT code for inward remittances and asks her to quote her account number and IFSC in the payment details. The resend clears in three days.
Common confusion
SWIFT code, IFSC and AD code are three different identifiers. IFSC is for domestic transfers within India, the SWIFT code is for international payments, and the AD code identifies your branch for export reporting on the EDF. A client abroad never needs your AD code.