diff --git a/modules/bank/bank.py b/modules/bank/bank.py
index 9b8d08c88d..62c32883b4 100644
--- a/modules/bank/bank.py
+++ b/modules/bank/bank.py
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ class Bank(ModelSQL, ModelView):
         pool = Pool()
         Party = pool.get('party.party')
         if IBAN:
-            assert isinstance(bic, BIC)
+            if not isinstance(bic, BIC):
+                bic = BIC(bic)
             banks = cls.search([
                     ('bic', '=', bic.compact),
                     ], limit=1)