SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with F

SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia

Our directory lists 608 banks and financial institutions in Australia and 1063 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. A BIC tells the banks handling a transfer exactly which bank should receive an international payment.

Search for the recipient’s bank in the list and open its page to see all codes we have and the details a transfer needs. Further down you can read how codes from Australia are built, how to send money to Australia at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) and its SWIFT codes

In our directory, BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) holds the most SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Australia. The head office uses PARBAUS1066, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

Many codes usually means separate codes for branches, departments or services – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code PARBAUS1066 works for transfers to this bank.

The structure of a Australia SWIFT/BIC code

Bank identifier codes follow the same format worldwide: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. The first four letters stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and the next two mark the location.

Whatever the bank, all Australia codes have the same fifth and sixth letters: the ISO code of the country. Codes with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad.

The optional last three characters stand for a branch or department; XXX is used for the head office. Choose a branch code just if the recipient’s bank asks for it.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) and conversion costs

Bank accounts in Australia are typically held in AUD – the Australian Dollar. If you send money in a different currency, it has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Who does the conversion has an effect on how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Compare what AUD the recipient gets via several services; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Exchange rates change all the time.

SWIFT codes in Australia: banks under :letter

This list shows only the banks in Australia whose name starts with :letter. The totals on this page cover all 608 banks.

If a bank does not appear here, check the full list – the registered name can differ from the name people use. The complete list remains one click away when you cannot find the bank here.

How reliable is this list?

Ask the recipient to send you their bank details directly from a recent statement. If the code you have differs from the code listed here, stop and ask: check with the recipient or the bank.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and update them from time to time. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use our data as a reference: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is not a bank.

Fraudsters regularly use fake invoices with new bank details from what looks like a familiar address. Before paying, verify changed details by phone, using a number you already had.

Sending money to Australia for less

A bank transfer to Australia often costs rather more than the fee suggests. On top of a fixed fee, intermediary banks can deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank usually uses a rate below the real market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Check the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients in Australia receive with different services.

Receiving money in Australia from abroad

If you are waiting for a payment from another country on an account in Australia, give the sender everything they need in one go. Share the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Your bank’s code appears in our list but always compare it with your own bank details. It helps to add the name and city of your bank, since some payment forms ask for it.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank. On invoices, state how the fees are split, so nobody is left short.

SWIFT transfers to Australia

Since Australia does not belong to SEPA, a transfer from abroad normally goes as a SWIFT payment. This means you always need the SWIFT/BIC code of the receiving bank in addition to the account details.

Depending on the country, the account is identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Check with the recipient exactly which details their bank needs for payments from abroad – many banks give clear instructions for this. International transfers sometimes go via correspondent banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

How long does a transfer to Australia take?

How quickly a payment arrives in Australia depends on several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Transfers sent late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday usually start the next business day.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each payment gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.