How do I validate SWIFT/BIC codes in an AI agent pipeline?

Steps

1. Install the Strale Python SDK, straleio.
2. Create the client with your API key.
3. Call swift-validate with the code and a price ceiling.
4. Read the result: validity, bank code, country code and the head-office flag.

The solution

# pip install straleio
from straleio import Strale, DoRequest

strale = Strale(api_key="sk_live_YOUR_KEY")

result = strale.do(DoRequest(
    capability_slug="swift-validate",
    inputs={"swift": "COBADEFFXXX"},
    max_price_cents=10,
))

print(f"Valid: {result.output['valid']}")
print(f"Bank code: {result.output['bank_code']}")
print(f"Country code: {result.output['country_code']}")
print(f"Head office: {result.output['is_head_office']}")

How it works

A SWIFT/BIC code is 8 or 11 characters long. The tool checks the format and length, then reads the bank code, country code, location code and branch code from the string itself. A code of 8 characters, or of 11 ending in XXX, is a head-office code, which is what is_head_office reports.

It is structural parsing, not a lookup in a bank directory. It does not return the bank's name and does not confirm that the code is in use. Pair it with your own bank reference data if you need either.

max_price_cents is required on every call. It caps what the call may cost, and the call is refused if the tool costs more.

Tools in this guide