How to Find Your Bank's SWIFT/BIC Code
Open your banking app and look for account details. That's the fastest way to find your SWIFT/BIC code, and it works for every major Polish bank. If you don't see it there, you can extract it from any IBAN in seconds using a lookup tool, or search by bank name online. This guide covers all four methods plus the codes for Revolut, Wise, N26, and the payment apps that don't have one.
What a SWIFT/BIC Code Actually Is
A SWIFT/BIC code is a unique identifier for a bank or financial institution. When someone sends you an international wire transfer, the sending bank uses this code to route the money to the right place. SWIFT stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication [1]. BIC stands for Bank Identifier Code [2]. The two terms are interchangeable.
What the Code Looks Like
A SWIFT code is 8 or 11 alphanumeric characters. The 8-character version identifies the bank's head office. The 11-character version adds a branch suffix [2].
Using PKO Bank Polski's code BPKOPLPW [3] as an example:
| Position | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Letters | Bank code | BPKO |
| 5–6 | Letters | Country code | PL |
| 7–8 | Letters or digits | Location code | PW |
| 9–11 | Letters or digits | Branch code (optional) | (absent = head office) |
Some systems pad a missing branch code with XXX, so BPKOPLPW and BPKOPLPWXXX are the same thing. Most banks use one SWIFT code for all branches. A few large banks (Scotiabank, Chase, Commonwealth Bank, BDO) assign branch-specific codes, but the 8-character head office code works for nearly all transfers.
4 Ways to Find Your Code
1. Your Banking App (Best Option)
Open your bank's mobile app or log into online banking. The SWIFT/BIC code appears alongside your IBAN under account details.
In Polish apps, look for account details (dane rachunku) or account information (szczegóły konta). PKO BP shows it in IKO under account details. mBank puts it in transaction settings. Millennium lists it under Informacje o rachunku.
This is the most reliable method because it shows the exact code tied to your specific account. Start here.
2. Your Bank Statement
SWIFT/BIC codes sometimes appear on monthly statements, paper or electronic, in the header or account details section. Look for a label reading "SWIFT," "BIC," or "SWIFT/BIC."
Not every bank prints it. If yours doesn't, move on.
3. Online Lookup
Free SWIFT code search tools let you look up a code by bank name and country. Enter the bank, select Poland, get the code. You can also do a reverse lookup: paste a SWIFT code to verify which bank it belongs to before sending money.
SWIFT maintains its own directory at swift.com [4], though third-party tools tend to be faster.
4. Extract It from an IBAN
Every Polish IBAN encodes the bank's identity in its structure. Digits 3 through 10 of the domestic account number contain the bank's sort code [5], which maps to a specific bank and branch.
Paste any Polish IBAN into the IBAN Bank Identifier to get the SWIFT/BIC code, bank name, and branch details instantly. This works in reverse too: if you have an IBAN and want the bank name, sort code, or address, the tool returns everything from a single number.
SWIFT Codes for Digital Banks and Payment Apps
Digital banks complicate things because they operate through multiple legal entities. Your code depends on which entity holds your account, not just which app you use.
Revolut
Your Revolut SWIFT code depends on which entity manages your account. Check "Account details" in the app to confirm.
| Entity | Country | SWIFT/BIC Code |
|---|---|---|
| Revolut Bank UAB | Lithuania | REVOLT21 |
| Revolut Bank UAB | Lithuania (alternate) | RVUALT2VXXX |
| Revolut Ltd | United Kingdom | REVOGB21XXX |
| Revolut Ltd | United Kingdom (alternate) | REVOGB2LXXX |
| Revolut | France | REVOFRP2XXX |
| Revolut | Singapore | REVOSGS2 |
| Revolut | United States | REVOUS31 |
Most European users, including those in Poland, hold accounts with Revolut Bank UAB (Lithuania). The code is usually REVOLT21 or RVUALT2VXXX [6]. If you're unsure which entity you're on, paste your Revolut IBAN into the IBAN Bank Identifier to confirm.
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Same story as Revolut: multiple entities, multiple codes.
| Entity | Region | SWIFT/BIC Code |
|---|---|---|
| Wise Payments Limited | Belgium (EUR) | TRWIBEB1 |
| Wise Payments Limited | Belgium (alternate) | TRWIBEB3 |
| Wise Payments Limited | Belgium (full format) | TRWIBEBBXXX |
| Wise Payments Limited | United Kingdom (GBP) | TRWIGB22XXX |
| Wise | Singapore (SGD) | TRWISGSGXXX |
| Wise US Inc | United States (USD) | Available in-app |
For EUR transfers, you almost certainly need TRWIBEB1 [7].
N26
N26 keeps it simple. One code for all accounts, all countries:
NTSBDEB1 [8]
PayPal, Cash App, Chime, Venmo, and Zelle
None of these have SWIFT codes. They're payment platforms, not banks, and you cannot receive an international wire transfer through any of them via SWIFT.
Cash App routes through Sutton Bank or Lincoln Savings Bank. Chime routes through Stride Bank or The Bancorp Bank. In theory you could use the partner bank's SWIFT code, but neither app officially supports this. PayPal doesn't support incoming SWIFT transfers at all. Venmo and Zelle handle domestic US transfers only.
If someone abroad needs to send you money and you only have one of these accounts, tell them to use Wise or Revolut instead.
Does Your Bank Have a SWIFT Code?
All major commercial banks do, worldwide. Every Polish bank has one. All major US, Canadian, and UK banks have one.
The gaps are at the smaller end. Credit unions and community banks often don't participate in SWIFT. US credit unions, including Navy Federal, usually lack a SWIFT code. Among online-only banks, Monzo has one; Chime, Green Dot, and Netspend do not.
If your bank lacks a SWIFT code, you'll need an intermediary bank or a transfer service like Wise to receive international wires.
The IBAN Bank Identifier can confirm whether a Polish IBAN maps to a bank with a SWIFT code.
When You Actually Need a SWIFT Code
For international wire transfers outside SEPA: SWIFT code required, plus the recipient's IBAN. The sender's bank uses the SWIFT code to route the payment.
For SEPA transfers (most of Europe, including Poland): IBAN only. SEPA doesn't require a SWIFT code because the IBAN already contains the routing information [9] [10].
For domestic Polish transfers: just the 26-digit account number, the NRB (numer rachunku bankowego), handles all routing [5].
For Wise or Revolut transfers: the app handles SWIFT routing internally. You don't need to look anything up.
Common Questions
Is the SWIFT code on my debit card?
No. Cards only display the card number, expiry, and CVV. Check your banking app or use an online lookup.
Where is the SWIFT code on a cheque?
It isn't. Cheques display routing numbers (US) or sort codes (UK), which are domestic identifiers. SWIFT codes are separate.
Can you send money internationally without a SWIFT code?
Yes. SEPA transfers need only an IBAN. Wise and Revolut handle routing internally. Traditional wire transfers outside SEPA are the only case where you need to provide one yourself.
Do credit unions have SWIFT codes?
Most don't. Some large ones participate in SWIFT, but the majority rely on intermediary banks for international transfers.
References
- About Us — Swift — swift.com
- Business Identifier Code (BIC) — ISO 9362 Standard — swift.com
- Kod BIC (SWIFT) i IBAN — PKO Bank Polski — pkobp.pl
- Free BIC Search on swift.com — Swift — swift.com
- Poland Bank Account Number — IBAN Structure and Format — ecbs.org
- RVUALT2VXXX BIC / SWIFT Code — Revolut Bank UAB — wise.com
- TRWIBEBB XXX BIC / SWIFT Code — Wise Europe S.A — wise.com
- NTSBDEB1 XXX BIC / SWIFT Code — N26 Bank — wise.com
- SEPA Schemes Rely on Global Open Standards — European Payments Council — europeanpaymentscouncil.eu
- EU Regulation 260/2012 — SEPA Credit Transfers and Direct Debits — eur-lex.europa.eu