SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with N

Bank SWIFT codes for Australia

For Australia we have 1063 SWIFT/BIC codes. A BIC shows the banks handling a transfer exactly which bank is meant to get the money.

Look for the bank you need below and click through to see the full list of codes and the details a transfer needs. Further down we explain how a code from Australia is put together, how to send money there at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

Sending AUD to Australia

The currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD). If you send another currency, it has to be converted somewhere along the way – by your bank, a bank in between or the recipient’s bank.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference. Often you pay less to send AUD directly through a transfer service with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Rates for AUD move during the day.

The structure of a Australia SWIFT/BIC code

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

You can recognise a code from Australia by letters five and six. Codes with a different country code come from a bank abroad – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The last three characters, if present, stand for a specific branch; XXX means the head office. In most cases the head office code is fine.

Filter: banks in Australia with :letter

This filter narrows the list to banks from Australia that begin with :letter to make searching quicker. The totals mentioned here apply to all 608 banks.

If the bank you need is missing under :letter, check the full list – the registered name can differ from the name people use. Try the full list for Australia when you do not know the exact name.

How reliable is this list?

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees.

This list is based on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Banks reorganise, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Before a payment of any size, confirm the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site for money transfers, not a bank.

Scammers regularly use fake invoices with new bank details. A valid BIC tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Why a transfer to Australia needs a SWIFT code

To pay into Australia you will almost always need the BIC – Australia is not a SEPA country. Without it, your bank cannot process the transfer.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a local account number instead of an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. The receiving bank often provides a list of required details for incoming international payments – follow them exactly. SWIFT payments can pass through one or more intermediary banks and fees can be taken along the way.

What a sender needs to pay you in Australia

A sender in another country will ask for several details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

Find the bank in the list above to check its code. Certain banks may also want your bank’s address, so keep it at hand.

The amount you receive is often lower than what was sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Agree with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Tracking a payment to Australia

A SWIFT payment to Australia typically needs anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Public holidays in Australia or in the sending country can add extra days.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Every gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Bank or transfer service for Australia?

When you send money to Australia via a regular bank, the stated fee is rarely all of the cost. There is a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. A simple test: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. On GoldexPay we compare the amount that arrives in Australia across providers, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

The largest SWIFT network in Australia: BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch)

BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) leads our list of Australia banks when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is PARBAUS1066.

Many codes usually reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Paying someone at BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch)? Go with PARBAUS1066 except when a specific branch code is requested.