SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with R

Australia: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

In Australia our database holds 1063 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 608 institutions. Each code identifies a bank or a specific branch or department and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Each bank is listed with its own page showing its main code and, where available, branch codes. 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.

SWIFT codes in Australia: banks under :letter

The letter filter narrows the list down to banks in Australia starting with :letter, so you can find a bank faster. The counts in the introduction still cover all banks in Australia.

If a bank is missing here, try the full list – the registered name can differ from the name people use. Use the full list for Australia if you do not know how the name is spelled.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Australia

The most reliable place for the right code is paperwork issued by the bank. An incorrect BIC can cause delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.

This list is compiled from publicly available sources that we update periodically. Institutions reorganise, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use this list as a starting point, not as the final word: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is not a bank and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Fraudsters often use fake invoices with changed bank details. Always confirm a change of bank details by phone.

SWIFT transfers to Australia

Since Australia does not belong to SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent through SWIFT. This means you always need the SWIFT/BIC code of the receiving bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Not all countries use IBAN numbers. The recipient’s bank often provides a list of required details for incoming international payments – follow them exactly. Before it arrives, a transfer can go through correspondent banks.

What a transfer to Australia really costs

If you send money to Australia with a regular bank, the fee you see is only part of what you pay. There is a transfer fee, possibly fees from correspondent banks and, above all, the exchange rate markup when currencies differ.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest part of the cost because it is hidden in the rate. A simple test: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares these providers next to each other, showing what actually arrives in Australia before you commit.

Australia and the Australian Dollar

Bank accounts in Australia are usually held in AUD, the local currency. When you pay another currency, the amount has to be converted at some point.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference, because each party uses its own rate. In many cases it is cheaper to send AUD straight away via a transfer service with a good rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. With bigger transfers, even a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

Which bank in Australia has the most codes?

Of the 608 banks in Australia, BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) has the largest number of codes. The head office of BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) uses PARBAUS1066; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Banks differ in whether they register branch codes – a high count is not a measure of size. Paying someone at BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch)? Use PARBAUS1066 except when a specific branch code is requested.

What a sender needs to pay you in Australia

When you expect a payment from another country in Australia, give the sender a complete set of details. In practice that means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your address.

The code of your bank is in the list on this page. It helps to add the name and city of your bank as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Transfer times to Australia

How fast money arrives in Australia is determined by a few things: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Payments made late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later.

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. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.

The structure of a Australia SWIFT/BIC code

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. First comes four letters for the bank, then a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

No matter which bank, every code from Australia share the same country code in positions five and six. If the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank in another country, so check again.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the main office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.