Also the name of such a code varies. UK clearings systems:
UK Clearing systems
BACS: Bulk electronic clearing
CHAPS Sterling: High value, same day sterling payment clearing
CHAPS Euro: High value, same day euro payment clearing
Cheque and Credit Clearing: Cheque clearing for Great Britain & Northern Ireland.
To overcome these difficulties, the European Committee for Banking Standards (ECBS) developed the IBAN which was later adopted as an international standard under ISO 13616:1997. All bank offices participating in the CHAPS Euro service must have a BIC , however not every bank office with a BIC necessarily participates in CHAPS Euro.
It identifies both the bank and the branch where the account is held.