SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with E

Bank SWIFT codes for Australia

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 608 institutions in Australia. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get the money.

Each bank has its own page showing the head office code and, where available, branch codes. Further down we explain how a code from Australia is put together, how to send money to Australia without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

What a transfer to Australia really costs

What you pay for a transfer to Australia is made up of more than one component, and the fee on your screen is only one of them. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. A simple test: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialised transfer providers frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients in Australia receive across services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

About our data and how to check a code

The best place to find the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or additional charges.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and update them regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Use our data as a starting point rather than the last word. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Be wary of invoices with a new account, especially when they come by email. Before paying, verify changed details by phone.

Banks in Australia starting with :letter

You are looking at a selection: only institutions in Australia with a name starting with :letter. The totals mentioned here cover all 608 banks.

Many institutions are listed under their legal name, which may start with words like Bank or Banco, so the letter can differ from what you expect. Use the full list for Australia if you are not sure the exact name.

Most SWIFT codes in Australia: BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch)

BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) tops the list for Australia when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is PARBAUS1066 – the code most transfers need.

Many codes usually reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services. Making a payment to BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch)? Go with PARBAUS1066 unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

The structure of a Australia SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC codes follow the same format worldwide: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. It starts with four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

Whatever the bank, all Australia codes have the same country code in positions five and six: the ISO code of the country. A code with a different country code come from another country.

An 11-character code ends in a branch code. Choose a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Tracking a payment to Australia

There is no fixed delivery time for transfers to Australia: many arrive the same day or the next while others need several business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday often go out a business day later.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Specialist transfer services often show tracking online, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Receiving money in Australia from abroad

For a transfer from abroad in Australia, the sender needs more than the BIC. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and usually your address.

The code of your bank appears in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. Certain banks may also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank. On invoices, agree who bears the costs.

International payments to Australia and the BIC

Since Australia does not belong to SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent as a SWIFT payment. That means the payment always needs the BIC of the recipient’s bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Not all countries use the IBAN – where there is none, the local account number is enough. The receiving bank often provides instructions for incoming international payments, and it is worth following them to the letter. Before it arrives, a payment may go through intermediary banks that take a fee.

Australia and the Australian Dollar

The national currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into AUD, and whoever converts it chooses the rate.

Who converts the money makes a difference, because each party uses its own rate. Compare how much AUD the recipient gets with different services. Exchange rates move during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.