Data sources and methodology
CNAPS Code Finder is an independent compiled directory. This page separates sources that explain CNAPS concepts from the public reference material used to assemble directory records, and states the limits of both.
Primary references for CNAPS usage
The following bank publications support our general explanations of CNAPS and examples of when a bank may request the identifier. They are named here for readers to inspect directly. They are not row-level provenance for every bank and branch record in our compiled dataset.
- Bank of China: CNAPS Bank Code — an English explanation of the identifier's clearing role.
- 中国银行：国内联行号查询说明 — the corresponding Chinese bank reference.
- Bank of China Panama: International Remittance — one example of CNAPS information requested for CNY remittance to mainland China.
- Bank of China Singapore: Corporate Remittance Form — a bank form showing a CNAPS field for the stated transaction context.
How the compiled directory is handled
Directory records are assembled from multiple public reference materials and normalized into consistent fields such as the twelve-digit union number, bank, branch, province, city, address, telephone, and Swift value when present. Values are stored as text to preserve leading zeroes. Similar English names are not automatically merged because separate branches can share near-identical translations.
We do not have a live connection to the People's Bank of China or any listed bank. Public concept references are not row-level provenance for the compiled directory, and a record passing our format checks can still be incomplete, historical, mistranslated, or unsuitable for a particular payment.
Review, limitations, and corrections
Dataset update dates are displayed only when a real deployment date is configured; pages are not stamped with today's date to imply a review that did not occur. Search-index controls limit promotion of empty, paginated, or non-curated directory combinations. These software checks improve consistency but cannot confirm an account, beneficiary, currency capability, branch status, or current transfer instructions.
To request a correction, email [email protected] with the full CNAPS code, page URL, current value, proposed value, and a checkable public or bank-issued source. Do not send account numbers, identity documents, receipts, or other private financial data. For a live transfer, confirm directly with the recipient or receiving bank.
Methodology reviewed: 2026-07-21 · Operator/editor: John Lan