SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with W

SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia

In Australia we have 1063 SWIFT/BIC codes from 608 financial institutions. A BIC shows every bank in the chain which institution is meant to get an international payment.

Every bank is listed with its own page showing the head office code and if there are any, codes for branches and departments. The rest of this page explain how the codes work, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes before a payment.

SWIFT transfers to Australia

For Australia you will usually need the BIC. Without the BIC, most banks will not process the payment.

Depending on the country, the account is identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN. The recipient’s bank often has a list of required details for payments from abroad. On the way to Australia, a payment can pass through correspondent banks that take a fee.

About our data and how to check a code

The best place to find the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. When the code you were given differs from our list, do not guess – contact the recipient or their bank.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and check our list from time to time. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. Before any payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

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

Filter: banks in Australia with :letter

This filter limits the list to banks in Australia starting with :letter, so you can find a bank faster. The totals mentioned above always cover the whole country and not only this selection.

Cannot find the bank? The registered name might begin with another word – think of the full legal name instead of the brand. The full overview for Australia is available if you cannot find the bank here.

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

BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) tops our list for Australia when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch) has PARBAUS1066; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

The number of codes says more about how it registers branches and services than about how big it is. Paying someone at BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch)? Go with PARBAUS1066 unless a specific branch code is requested.

When does money sent to Australia arrive?

An international transfer to Australia typically needs one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Payments made after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often start the next business day.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Every payment carries a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Save the payment confirmation.

Incoming international payments in Australia

If you expect a payment from another country on an account in Australia, send the payer a complete set of details. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and, often, your address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. Some banks may also ask for your bank’s address, so keep it at hand.

What lands in your account can be less than what was sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. For business payments, state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Bank or transfer service for Australia?

What you pay for a transfer to Australia is made up of several parts – not only the fee you see. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. A simple test: set the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares transfer services next to each other, showing the amount that reaches the recipient.

The structure of a Australia SWIFT/BIC code

Each SWIFT/BIC code consists of 8 or 11 characters in a fixed order. It starts with four letters for the bank, followed by two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

In every code from Australia, letters five and six show the ISO country code of Australia – that is the quickest way to spot one. If the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank in another country.

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 fine, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Paying in AUD: what conversion costs you

Most accounts in Australia are typically held in AUD – the Australian Dollar. When you pay another currency, it gets converted at some point.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount. Compare what AUD the recipient gets with several services; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Exchange rates move all the time.