SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with Q

Finding a SWIFT code in Australia

For Australia our database holds 1063 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 608 institutions. Each code identifies an institution or a specific branch or department.

Every bank has its own page showing the head office code and if there are any, branch codes. The rest of this page covers the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes.

Why a transfer to Australia needs a SWIFT code

Since Australia is outside SEPA, an international payment is usually sent through SWIFT. This means you always need the SWIFT/BIC code of the recipient’s bank in addition to the account details.

Not every country uses the IBAN; in that case the local account number is used instead. Ask the recipient exactly which details their bank requires for incoming international payments; banks often publish instructions for this. Before it arrives, a transfer may pass through intermediary banks that charge for their part.

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. If the code you have does not match our list, do not guess – contact the recipient or their bank.

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and check our list from time to time. Still, banks merge or retire codes. Before any payment of any size, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Be wary of payment requests containing changed bank details, especially when they come by email. A valid BIC says nothing about who owns the account.

Filter: banks in Australia with :letter

This page only shows banks in Australia beginning with :letter in alphabetical order. The counts in the introduction always refer to all banks in Australia.

Many institutions appear under their official name rather than the name on their app or website. The full overview for Australia remains available when you cannot find the bank here.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Australia

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. That means: your name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your postal address.

Look up the bank in the list on this page and compare the code with your own bank details, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. It helps to add your bank’s name and city as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

What lands in your account is often lower than the amount sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. On invoices, state how the fees are split.

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

Of the 608 banks we list for Australia, BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) has the most codes. Its main office has PARBAUS1066; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Practice differs in whether they register branch codes – a high count is not a measure of size. Making a payment to BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch)? Use PARBAUS1066 except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

What the letters in a Australia BIC mean

A SWIFT code is 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. It starts with a four-letter bank code, followed by two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

In every code from Australia, characters five and six show the two-letter ISO code of Australia, which makes these codes easy to recognise. If the country letters do not match Australia, the code belongs to a bank in another country, so check again.

An 11-character code adds a branch code. For most transfers the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

Bank or transfer service for Australia?

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

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest cost item. An easy check: set the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a bank. Before your next transfer to Australia, it is worth to compare the total cost via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

Sending AUD to Australia

The national currency of Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD). When you pay another currency, it gets converted at some point.

Who converts the money matters, because each party uses its own rate. Compare how much AUD the recipient gets with several services; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Rates for AUD change during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.

When does money sent to Australia arrive?

There is no single delivery time for payments to Australia: many land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Bank holidays in either country can add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

If a transfer is delayed, 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. Save the payment confirmation; a bank needs it to start a trace.