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SwiftRef

Swift’s unique reference data solution

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SwiftRef

Swift is uniquely placed to collect reference data from the financial community as the ISO Registry for BIC and IBAN formats. Discover how SwiftRef, Swift's premier data service, can streamline your payment operations.

Benefits

Reduced cost
Reduced cost

SwiftRef manages and maintains reference data on your behalf.

Operational efficiency
Operational efficiency

SwiftRef data is reliable, standardised and easy to integrate into back office systems.

Flexibility
Flexibility

Reference data is available through file downloads, a web application and real-time APIs.

Peace of mind
Peace of mind

Industry recognition as the single source for accurate and always up-to-date reference data.

Learn more about SwiftRef

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SwiftRef portfolio

  • Payments Directory

    The Payments Directory is SwiftRef's most comprehensive offering. Populate and validate bank identifiers and their details in domestic and international payments by importing data into your applications, CRM and ERP systems, or building your own database tables.

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  • Identifiers Directory

    Your single source of global reference data, collected directly from central banks, code issuers, clearing and settlement mechanisms (CSMs), banking associations, regional financial communities, and financial institutions.

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  • BIC Directory

    Access all BIC8s and BIC11s - and their registered name, address, Swift connectivity status, and Distinguished Name (DN) - which are used to identify entities that are parties in financial transactions made either on the Swift network or an RTGS system.

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  • Participants Directory

    A comprehensive and structured view of payments and messaging services worldwide, their participants, how they connect, and how payments flow across markets.

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  • SEPA Directory

    The SEPA Directory offers structured information on SEPA scheme participation, including BIC‑level reachability, scheme roles, and participation status, enabling you to understand who can send, receive, or process SEPA payments, and through which schemes.

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  • SSI Directory

    The SSI Directory is a single, reliable reference source for structured payment SSI data for banks worldwide, including account details, clearing information, and settlement preferences for multiple payment methods.

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  • Bankers World Online

    Identify and validate your payment correspondents with the SwiftRef reference data search web application. Payment operations teams can validate worldwide payments reference data such as BICs, sort codes, IBANs, and SSIs.

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  • SwiftRef APIs

    Real-time identification and validation of critical payments reference data via an automated look-up service.

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  • Corporate Bundle One

    SwiftRef's bundles are designed to optimise payment processing for corporates and help them capture and store existing and emerging bank data requirements.

    The SwiftRef Corporate Bundles combine access to the Bankers World Online (BWO) online search web application with the files specific to your needs.

    Corporate Bundle One is designed for corporates that process predominantly SEPA payments. It provides BWO and SEPA Directory access for the complete SEPA transaction toolkit.

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  • Corporate Bundle Two

    SwiftRef's bundles are designed to optimise payment processing for corporates and help them capture and store existing and emerging bank data requirements.

    The SwiftRef Corporate Bundles combine access to the Bankers World Online (BWO) online search web application with the files specific to your needs.

    Corporate Bundle Two is designed for corporates that process domestic and cross-border payments. It provides BWO and Identifiers Directory access for comprehensive coverage of cross-referenced identifiers.

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  • Corporate Bundle Three

    SwiftRef's bundles are designed to optimise payment processing for corporates and help them capture and store existing and emerging bank data requirements.

    The SwiftRef Corporate Bundles combine access to the Bankers World Online (BWO) online search web application with the files specific to your needs.

    Corporate Bundle Three is our most complete offering, designed for global corporates with large-scale payment operations. It provides BWO and Payments Directory access to provide the complete reference data solution for global payments.

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SwiftRef Delivery Channels

 
SwiftRef APIs 

An automated data look-up service for real-time identification and validation of critical payments reference data, designed for financial institutions, corporates and third-party service providers. The SwiftRef Identifiers API is available to Swift Essentials customers. Access specifications, ordering and onboarding details on the Swift Developer Portal.
 

Manual file download 

Download the SwiftRef directories in your choice of format (.txt or .xml), type (full or delta) and frequency (daily or monthly) from Bankers World Online.
 

Automated download 

Automatically feed daily or monthly SwiftRef directory files into your back-office systems using our web service solution. View technical specifications in the Knowledge Centre.
 

Automated download - FileAct 

Automatically feed daily or monthly SwiftRef directory files into your back-office systems using our web service solution. View technical specifications in the Knowledge Centre.
 

Web application

Bankers World Online is the online search portal for global payments and correspondent banking reference data. It is available to registered users of SwiftRef online products and included in each corporate bundle.

Resources

Access key resources for deeper insights and support

Document
Service description Service description
Document
Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions
Document
Publication schedule and distribution information Publication schedule and distribution information
Document
SwiftRef API technical specifications SwiftRef API technical specifications
Document
SwiftRef API reference SwiftRef API reference
Web page
SwiftRef API developer portal SwiftRef API developer portal
Training
Introduction to the new SwiftRef Portfolio Introduction to the new SwiftRef Portfolio
Latest news
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Training
Knowledge Centre
Document centre