SWIFT codes are not the same as sort codes.  A SWIFT code (sometimes also called a SWIFT number) is an international bank code that identifies banks all over the world for international payments. It is also known as a Bank Identifier Code (BIC). A SWIFT code is a set of 8 or 11 characters (numbers and letters) that represents a bank branch, and is made up of the first three or all four of the following: Bank code Country code Location code Branch code