If at least once you were faced with the need to fill out any payment documents of a particular bank, then you certainly had to fill out a field in which you need to indicate the BIC of the relevant bank. This requisite is included in the list of obligatory for all credit organizations and is indicated when making money transfers, processing payment orders, letters of credit, etc. In most countries of the world, each bank created is assigned its own unique BIC. What is and how is formed, you will learn by reading this article.
BIC: who assigns it and for what purpose
The abbreviation of the attribute is deciphered as a "bank identification code" - it allows you to identify the organization by territorial affiliation, as well as obtain information about the time of its creation. Thus, knowing the BIC of the bank, you can find out in which subject of the federation it is located and when it was opened.
The registration of all bank identification codes is the responsibility of the country's main bank, the Central Bank of Russia. He maintains a classifier of BIC RFs on an ongoing basis. At least monthly, the Central Bank updates information on these details, which is entered in a special directory. The procedure for its maintenance, as well as the structure of the BIC, is determined by the Regulation of the CBR No. 225P of 2003.
BIC structure: we analyze in detail
Let's take a closer look at what BIC consists of. What is a unique identifier and how is it formed for each credit institution. First of all, it should be said that a constant sign of this attribute is the number of digits (more precisely, digits), which are always 9. It is from them that you can determine which territory a particular bank and a particular unit (office) that deals with -cash customer service.
The value of bits BIK
Read BIC is always from left to right. Consider what each digit in the aggregate digits of the bank identification code means:
- The first two digits (1-2 digits) - indicate that the bank belongs to a specific state (in which country it is registered). BIC of Russian banks always starts with the numbers "04".
- The second two digits (3-4 digits) - the code of the territory of Russia, assigned according to the All-Russian Classifier (OKATO), dividing objects by administrative-territorial basis. This code indicates the subject of the Russian Federation in which the bank is registered. If the credit institution is located outside of Russia, then the value "00" is assigned.
- The third two digits (5-6 digits) are the conditional number under which a particular banking unit operates in the Central Bank settlement network. Changes from "00" to "99".
- The last three digits (7–9 digits) are the number of this credit institution (or its branch) in the Bank of Russia unit in which its correspondent account is opened. It can take values from "050" to "999". For settlement and cash centers of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for these categories (7, 8, 9), the number "000" is assigned. For the main billing center - "001". For all other divisions of the Bank of Russia settlement network, “002”.
Thus, the bank identification code of each credit institution is unique and does not coincide with the relevant details of other banks.
BIC Bank on the example of Sberbank of Russia
Let's look at an example of how this attribute is formed . Most often, citizens of our country are interested in the BIC of Sberbank of Russia. We will consider it. Let it be the main branch located in Moscow. Its BIC is 044525225, where:
- 04 - code of Russia;
- 45 - Moscow code;
- 25 - number of this department;
- 225 - conditional number KO in the division of the settlement network of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. (It is important to note that this number must necessarily coincide with the last three digits of the client's correspondent account.)
Where and how can I get information about BIC
If you needed the BIC of a bank to fill out documents, then finding it will not be difficult. Firstly, this requisite must be posted on the website of the credit institution. To do this, there is a corresponding section - "Details", access to which is open to all. Secondly, the specified details of all banks in Russia are available on the official website of the Central Bank. This information can be obtained in the "Information on credit organizations" section by selecting the "Directory" and finding the bank you need.
When do we need a BIC bank?
What is BIC useful for? What is this code (in addition to an informant about the territorial affiliation of a credit organization) for bank customers? This is a mandatory requisite necessary for all non-cash payments, as well as any transfer / receipt of funds and payments. Without it, filling out payment documents will not succeed.
Thus, we examined all the basic information regarding such an important banking requisite as BIC. Now you should have no difficulties if, when filling out documents, you come across a field in which you want to enter the BIC of your bank.