In the title compound, [Cu(CHO(2))(2)(C(12)H(10)N(4))], the Cu(II) ion lies on an inversion center and is coordinated by two formate O atoms and two N atoms from two 1,4-bis-(imidazol-1-yl)phenyl ligands (L), forming a square-planar coordination environment. The linear mol-ecule L acts as a bidente bridging ligand, connecting the metal atoms into a chain along [101].