Bank of The Bahamas Limited SWIFT/BIC code

What BOTBBSNS means for a payment to Bank of The Bahamas Limited

BOTBBSNS and BOTBBSNSXXX are two ways of writing the same bank identifier, and both point to Bank of The Bahamas Limited in Nassau. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get the money, much like a postcode for banks. In daily life you mostly come across it on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details of Bank of The Bahamas Limited customers.

This page is meant to help people who receives money at an account at Bank of The Bahamas Limited. The SWIFT code alone cannot identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes on this page are taken from public sources that we update regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. The figures we show are based on what is in our directory and not on information from Bank of The Bahamas Limited itself.

Treat the information here as a helpful check, and let the details from the recipient or Bank of The Bahamas Limited have the final say. GoldexPay is independent of Bank of The Bahamas Limited, we only compare transfer services. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message via the contact page.

How long does an international transfer to Bank of The Bahamas Limited take?

An international transfer usually needs anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often go out a business day later. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also cause a delay, even when all details are correct.

If a transfer is late, ask the sending bank about the status or the UETR; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Keep the payment confirmation until the money has arrived – you will need it for any trace request.

A missing payment is traced by the sending bank on the basis of the transfer details. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation; that often settles the question quickly.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Stay alert if a contact suddenly asks you to pay into another account abroad. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Check changed payment details via a separate channel, such as a phone number you already know, not by replying to the message. Urgency and secrecy tend to be warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If a payment was sent to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud can also work the other way: someone sends too much and asks you to return the difference via a different route. Do not act before the money has really arrived.

Sending money abroad from Bank of The Bahamas Limited

A bank transfer abroad costs rather more than the listed fee. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between can deduct a fee, and if the money changes currency the bank usually uses a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee: the bank converts at a rate with a margin built in. A simple test: set the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before your next transfer, take a minute comparing the total cost on GoldexPay. Choosing a specialist does not require leaving Bank of The Bahamas Limited: you simply pay the service from your account.

Why Bank of The Bahamas Limited has an 8- and an 11-character code

The structure of a BIC is always the same: four characters for the institution, two for the country and a two-character location code, plus an optional branch code. Together, these eight characters make up BOTBBSNS – the version you usually see online.

XXX at the end of BOTBBSNSXXX is not a placeholder or an error: it stands for the head office of Bank of The Bahamas Limited. Certain payment forms ask for 11 characters, in which case you simply enter XXX behind BOTBBSNS.

Do not add spaces when you enter BOTBBSNS or BOTBBSNSXXX. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 or I versus 1; they are easy to mix up.

How to check BOTBBSNS before you pay

The safest source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details. Check it against BOTBBSNS on this page.

Errors in the BIC are annoying rather than fatal. Do not forget the account number: a mistake there is more difficult to correct than a wrong code.

Many banking apps validate the format of IBANs and some suggest the matching BIC. Some banks now check the name with the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. Sending a small amount first is a sensible step for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

Head office or branch code at Bank of The Bahamas Limited?

Our database contains 4 SWIFT/BIC codes for Bank of The Bahamas Limited, spread over 3 cities. Besides the head office code BOTBBSNSXXX, there are codes for branches, departments or specific services.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code BOTBBSNSXXX works fine. Only use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient which code their bank gave them. Branch codes can change over time, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Incoming international payments to Bank of The Bahamas Limited

When you are waiting for a payment from another country, send the payer everything they need in one go. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code BOTBBSNSXXX and your address.

You can add the bank name and Nassau as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A mistake in your account number can be harder to fix than it looks.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.