Ordering

Ordering checklist

• Read the BIC registration procedure and the BIC Policy which provide a general description of the rules related to the registration and the publication of BICs.

• Before ordering a new non-connected BIC, you must register your organisation.

• Please refer to User Guide and FAQ should you encounter any difficulties to register your organisation.

• New organisation registration CHECKLIST (*). 

  • Document 1: Extract from Company / Trade Registry

    • Provide a recent proof from your official companies’ registration authority (less than 3 months old), that your organisation is legally existing and properly registered in your country. In case such proof originates from an online trade registry, please provide a full PDF print and the URL to that specific page.  If not available in the country, a certificate of good standing issued by the local authorities, or a copy of the latest annual return as filed with the authorities must be transmitted.

  • Document 2: Proof of authority of the signer

    • The registration form must be signed by a person who has signing authority and commit the registering organisation, and we strongly recommend it to be signed by an authorized signer mentioned on the extract of trade registry. Otherwise, evidence of such signature authority (e.g. Power of Attorney or POA) must be provided. Such POA must be issued and signed by someone authorised to grant such authority and Swift should be able to check this against provided official documents. Kindly ensure the signature is identical with official identification documents.

  • Document 3: Supervisory Authority evidence

    • For financial institution, please provide proof of prudential financial supervision issued by the local financial regulator or supervisory authority authorising your entity to conduct financial business (banking, insurance, securities, trade finance etc.) and specifying the type of authorised business and activities. In case such proof originates from an online registry, provide a full and recent PDF print of your company’s entry including the full details of the authorizations and the URL to that specific page. 

    • Format:

      • For non-English documents, please also provide a translation in English. 

      • In case an on-line registry of a financial supervisor or regulator is referenced, please also include the full URL to the specific record.

      • Scans of documents need to be taken directly from the original, in colour and high quality

  • Document 4: Company Application Form / E-order Form

    • Provide a printed signed application form to register the legal entity:

      1. Download the application form via the registration portal. This form is pre-filled in with the provided information on the legal entity and contacts. Do not make changes to the form.

      2. Have the document dated and wet-signed by a person having signature authority for the registering legal entity.

      3. Scan the signed document and upload it on registration portal. 

    • Format: Full colour, image mode scan or picture directly taken from the original source document, in Pdf or Jpeg, of excellent quality (e.g.400 dpi -about 3300 x 4600 pixels for a full A4 page). Poor quality documents will be discarded.

• Should the original information or document not be in English, please kindly provide an English translation. Poor quality documents will be discarded. These mandatory document are required by the date of Company Application Form / E-order Form submission + 8 working days. In case the documents are not received by this date, the application may be cancelled. The aforementioned list is non-exhaustive, Swift reserve the right to require additional documents for due diligence and compliance on a case by case basis.

• Upon registration of your organisation, you will receive credentials to access the form for ordering a non-connected BIC.

• A non-connected BIC is always published in the ISO directory of BICs and in the different SwiftRef directories.

• A non-connected BIC is validated in the same way as a connected BIC in the text of a Swift message.

• A non-connected BIC cannot be used in the header of a Swift message, otherwise it will be rejected by the Swift system.

• A 3-character branch code is optional and may be used to identify a branch, a department or a service of the same organisation.