SWIFT/BIC codes in Australia: banks starting with Z

Australia: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

In Australia our database holds 1063 SWIFT/BIC codes. A BIC tells the banks handling a transfer which institution should receive the money.

Pick a bank from the list to see its head office code and any branch codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. The rest of this page explain how the codes work, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) and conversion costs

Australia pays in the Australian Dollar. A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into AUD on its way to the recipient – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Often you pay less to send AUD straight away through a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. With bigger transfers, even a small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Banks in Australia beginning with the letter :letter

This page shows only banks in Australia whose name starts with :letter in alphabetical order. The totals on this page cover all 608 banks, not just the ones under :letter.

Bank not listed? Its official name may start with a different letter, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. The full overview for Australia is available if you cannot find the bank here.

Check the code before you pay

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. When the code you were given does not match the code listed here, stop and ask – contact the recipient or their bank.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Institutions reorganise, change names and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use this list as a reference rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is a comparison service for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Be wary of invoices containing a new account – a common fraud method. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine.

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 SWIFT codes. Its head office code is PARBAUS1066 – the code most transfers need.

A large number of codes usually means separate codes for branches, departments or services, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, PARBAUS1066 is fine for a payment to BNP Paribas Services, (Australia Branch).

Incoming international payments in Australia

When you are waiting for money from abroad on an account in Australia, send the payer all details at once. 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.

Look up your bank in the list above to check its code – your bank statement is the final word. It helps to include the name and city of your bank as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. On invoices, agree who bears the costs.

Why a transfer to Australia needs a SWIFT code

For Australia you usually need a SWIFT/BIC code, because the country is outside the SEPA area. Without it, most banks cannot process the payment at all.

Not all countries use the IBAN. Ask the recipient exactly which details their bank needs for incoming international payments – many banks give clear instructions for this. Before it arrives, a transfer can go through intermediary banks.

Transfer times to Australia

How quickly money reaches Australia is determined by a few things: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Bank holidays in either country add extra days to the journey.

If the money is delayed, the sender should contact their own bank. Specialist transfer services often show a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

What a transfer to Australia really costs

The price of a transfer to Australia is made up of several parts, and the fee on your screen is only one of them. You pay a transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

The markup on the rate is often the largest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers often use rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient before you commit.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Australia

Bank identifier codes use the same format worldwide: 8 characters plus an optional three-character extension. It starts with four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

No matter which bank, all Australia codes share the same country code in positions five and six, namely the ISO code of Australia. A code with a different country code come from a bank abroad – a quick way to catch mistakes.

If the last three are XXX, it means the main office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.