SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with S

SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia

Here you will find codes for 608 banks in Australia, 1063 codes in all. A BIC shows the banks handling a transfer exactly which bank should receive an international payment.

Search for the recipient’s bank below and open its page for all codes we have and the details a transfer needs. Below the list you can read 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.

International payments to Australia and the BIC

Australia is outside the SEPA area, so European euro rules do not apply. International transfers to Australia usually travel over the SWIFT network.

In some countries, the account is identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN and sometimes a local routing or branch code. The receiving bank usually provides instructions for incoming international payments. International transfers sometimes go via correspondent banks and fees can be taken along the way.

How SWIFT codes from Australia are built

A BIC is either 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

You can recognise a bank code from Australia from the fifth and sixth characters: they always show the ISO country code of Australia. When those two letters do not match Australia, the code belongs to a bank in another country – worth double-checking.

The optional last three characters identify a specific branch; XXX is used for the head office. For most transfers the head office code is fine.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Australia

To receive an international payment into a Australia account, the sender needs not just the SWIFT code. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and, often, your postal address.

Your bank’s code appears in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. It helps to add your bank’s name and city because some forms have separate fields for it.

The amount you receive is often less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

When does money sent to Australia arrive?

A SWIFT payment to Australia typically takes one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Public holidays in Australia or in the sending country can add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Every payment gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Keep the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Check the code before you pay

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient. If the code you have differs from the code listed here, stop and ask – contact the recipient or their bank.

We gather bank codes from publicly available data and update them regularly. Even so, banks merge or change codes. For any payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is not a bank and has no link to the banks in this list.

Watch out for payment requests with a new account. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Banks in Australia starting with :letter

This list shows only banks in Australia beginning with :letter. The counts in the introduction always cover all banks in Australia and not only this selection.

If the bank you need does not appear under :letter, try the full list: banks are often registered under their full legal name. The full overview for Australia remains one click away if you cannot find the bank here.

Bank or transfer service for Australia?

A bank transfer to Australia can cost more than you think. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent banks may take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate. The difference is your real cost.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other, showing the amount that reaches the recipient before you commit.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) and conversion costs

Australia pays in the Australian Dollar (AUD). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into AUD, and whoever converts it chooses the rate.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Compare how much AUD the recipient gets via several services; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Rates for AUD change during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

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

Among the 608 institutions we list, BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) has the most SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia. 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. If not the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code PARBAUS1066 works for transfers to this bank.