Bank of China (Australia) Limited SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Bank of China (Australia) Limited

BKCHAU2A and BKCHAU2AXXX are two ways of writing the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Bank of China (Australia) Limited in Sydney. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to route international transfers to the correct institution. In practice you mostly come across it on invoices from abroad, in your banking app and in the bank details that Bank of China (Australia) Limited provides.

We wrote this page to help anyone who receives money at an account at Bank of China (Australia) Limited. The SWIFT code on its own cannot identify a personal account; that is what the IBAN or account number .

Sending AUD to Bank of China (Australia) Limited

Most accounts at Bank of China (Australia) Limited are typically held in AUD, the national currency of Australia. When you pay money in a different currency, the amount gets converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or Bank of China (Australia) Limited itself. There is rarely a separate line for that conversion.

Who does the conversion affects the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Check what AUD the recipient gets via different providers before choosing one.

The AUD rate fluctuates constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. If you pay regularly, small differences in the rate add up over time.

BKCHAU2A or BKCHAU2AXXX – which one to use?

The layout of a BIC never changes: four characters for the institution, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code, plus an optional branch code. In this case, that core is BKCHAU2A.

Many banks and apps work with either length. If yours asks for eleven characters, enter BKCHAU2AXXX; if it wants eight, use BKCHAU2A.

In practice the code is typed in capitals. Copying the code beats typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.

Receiving money from abroad at Bank of China (Australia) Limited

To receive a transfer from abroad into your account at Bank of China (Australia) Limited, the person paying you needs more than the SWIFT code. In practice that means: your full name as registered with Bank of China (Australia) Limited, your IBAN or account number, the BIC BKCHAU2AXXX and, often, your address.

The sender’s bank might also ask for the address of your bank. Check the details before you send them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, Bank of China (Australia) Limited may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Bank of China (Australia) Limited

The best place to find the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank like a bank statement or the account page in online banking. Compare that code against BKCHAU2A here.

An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a returned payment or extra fees for investigation. A mistake in the IBAN or account number can be a bigger problem, so check that just as carefully.

A format check in your banking app merely tells you that the IBAN is valid, not that it is the right account. More and more banks compare the payee name against the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. A small test payment is a sensible step for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

Which of the 13 codes of Bank of China (Australia) Limited do you need?

Our directory lists 13 SWIFT/BIC codes for Bank of China (Australia) Limited in 9 places. Next to the head office code BKCHAU2AXXX, there are codes for individual branches and departments.

For most incoming transfers, the head office code BKCHAU2AXXX is the right choice. A branch code only makes sense if the account holder specifically mentions it, which is more common for business accounts and specialised services.

Unsure which code applies? Ask the recipient. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

A note on our data

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from publicly available data and check them regularly. Banks merge, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. The number of codes on this page are based on our own data, not official figures from Bank of China (Australia) Limited.

Use our data as a reference, rather than as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers and not part of Bank of China (Australia) Limited. If you notice a mistake, we welcome a short note via the contact page.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Criminals often use fake invoices containing new bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. That BKCHAU2A is a real code does not mean that the account is legitimate – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Always confirm changed bank details through a phone call. Pressure and secrecy tend to be red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. Already paid? Contact your bank straight away and have them try to recall the payment and report the fraud.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to refund the difference to another account. A payment confirmation from the sender proves nothing – check your own account.

When will the money arrive at Bank of China (Australia) Limited?

There is no single answer for every transfer: some land within a day. Payments made late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually start the next business day. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for, which can hold things up.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Every payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often show tracking in their app showing how far the money is.

Only the sending bank can request a trace or a recall; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. As a recipient, you can check your statements for a partial amount.

Sending money abroad from Bank of China (Australia) Limited

When you transfer money to another country via Bank of China (Australia) Limited, the fee you see is rarely all of the cost. You pay the fee for the transfer itself, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when the money is converted.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest item even though it is not listed as a fee. Check their rate with the mid-market rate. The difference is your real conversion cost.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a bank. Next time you send money, it is worth to compare the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. Using a transfer service does not mean leaving Bank of China (Australia) Limited: you simply pay the service from your account.