SWIFT/BIC codes in Azerbaijan

Finding a SWIFT code in Azerbaijan

Here you will find codes for 50 banks in Azerbaijan. You need such a code mostly when making international transfers.

Pick a bank below to view the head office code and its other codes. Further down you can read how a code from Azerbaijan is put together, how to send money to Azerbaijan without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

The largest SWIFT network in Azerbaijan: Central Bank of The Republic of Azerbaijan

Central Bank of The Republic of Azerbaijan tops our list of Azerbaijan banks when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Central Bank of The Republic of Azerbaijan has NABZAZ2CXXX.

How many codes a bank has says more about how it registers branches and services than about its size. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code NABZAZ2CXXX works for a payment to Central Bank of The Republic of Azerbaijan.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. An incorrect BIC can cause delays, a returned payment or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources and is updated regularly. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Before a payment that matters, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Be wary of invoices containing changed bank details, especially when they come by email. Always verify a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had.

The cheapest way to send money to Azerbaijan

What you pay for a transfer to Azerbaijan has more than one component – not only the fee you see. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

The real cost is often in the rate – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate. The difference is your real cost.

Specialist money transfer services often use a rate near the mid-market rate. Before your next transfer to Azerbaijan, it is worth to compare what arrives via GoldexPay.

International payments to Azerbaijan and the BIC

Since Azerbaijan is outside SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent through SWIFT. That means the payment always needs the SWIFT/BIC code of the receiving bank.

Not all countries use the IBAN; in that case the local account number is used instead. Ask the recipient which details their bank requires for incoming international payments; banks often publish instructions for this. International transfers sometimes go via correspondent banks and fees can be taken along the way.

How SWIFT codes from Azerbaijan are built

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

No matter which bank, every code from Azerbaijan share the same fifth and sixth letters: the ISO code of the country. A code with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The last three characters, if present, stand for a specific branch; XXX means the head office. In most cases the head office code is fine, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

How long does a transfer to Azerbaijan take?

How fast money reaches Azerbaijan is determined by a few things: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Public holidays in either country can add a day or more to the journey.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact the sending bank for a trace; only the sending side can start an official trace. Keep the payment confirmation until the money has arrived; a bank needs it to start a trace.

Incoming international payments in Azerbaijan

If you are waiting for a payment from another country in Azerbaijan, send the payer a complete set of details. 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 sometimes your postal address.

The code of your bank is in the list on this page but always compare it with your own bank details. Some sending banks may also ask for the name and address of your bank.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.