SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with H

SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia

For Australia we have 1063 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 608 institutions. Every code identifies a bank or a specific branch or department, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Every bank is listed with its own page showing the head office code and, where available, codes for branches and departments. Below the list we explain how a code from Australia is put together, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) and conversion costs

The currency of Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into AUD on its way to the recipient, and whoever converts it chooses the rate.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. In many cases it is cheaper if you send AUD directly via a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. On larger amounts, a seemingly small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

Banks in Australia starting with :letter

This list shows only banks in Australia beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The figures for Australia on this page apply to all 608 banks.

Cannot find the bank? Its official name may begin with another word – think of the full legal name instead of the brand. Try the full list for Australia when you are not sure how the name is spelled.

International payments to Australia and the BIC

Since Australia is outside SEPA, an international payment is usually sent as a SWIFT payment. That means you always need the SWIFT/BIC code of the receiving bank in addition to the account details.

In some countries, accounts are identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN and sometimes a local routing or branch code. Ask the recipient which details their bank requires for payments from abroad. International transfers sometimes go via correspondent banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

The cheapest way to send money to Australia

What you pay for a payment to Australia is made up of more than one component, and the fee on your screen is only one of them. You pay a transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the rate. GoldexPay lists transfer services next to each other so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable place for the right code is a document from the bank itself. When the code you were given does not match our list, do not guess.

This list is based on publicly available sources that we update periodically. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Use this list as a reference rather than the last word. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Scammers often send fake invoices carrying new bank details that look completely genuine. Always confirm a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had.

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

Of all banks in Australia, BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) has the largest number of SWIFT codes. The head office uses PARBAUS1066.

A large number of codes often reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not a branch code is given, the head office code PARBAUS1066 works for a payment to BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch).

How SWIFT codes from Australia are built

SWIFT/BIC codes follow one international format: 8 characters plus an optional three-character extension. It starts with a four-letter bank code, followed by two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

No matter which bank, all Australia codes share the same country code in positions five and six. A code with a different country code belong to a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

The optional last three characters stand for a branch or department; XXX is used for the head office. In most cases the head office code is what you need.

Tracking a payment to Australia

How quickly money arrives in Australia is determined by several factors: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Public holidays in Australia or in the sending country can add a day or more.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact the sending bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking in their app.

What a sender needs to pay you in Australia

A sender in another country needs a few details from you. That means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and, often, your postal address.

Your bank’s code is in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. You can include your bank’s name and city as well.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. On invoices, agree who bears the costs, so nobody is left short.