Union Bancaire Privee SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Union Bancaire Privee

The 8-character code NFZBBSNS and the full code NFZBBSNSXXX refer to the same bank: Union Bancaire Privee. The code does one job: it makes sure that an international payment ends up at the right bank. It comes up mostly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

On this page you can read how the code is put together, when it matters and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Union Bancaire Privee. The BIC identifies a bank or branch, never a single account, which is why you always need the account number too.

How up to date is this code?

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and update them from time to time. Institutions merge, close branches and retire codes, and a directory never catches every change immediately. The figures on this page are based on what is in our directory.

For a payment that matters, always confirm the code with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay has no connection to Union Bancaire Privee; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Spotted outdated information? Let us know via our contact form.

Receiving money from abroad at Union Bancaire Privee

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. Give them your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, the BIC NFZBBSNSXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Their bank may also ask for the bank address of Union Bancaire Privee, in which case the Nassau head office is the usual answer. A typo in your account number can be more trouble than you might think, so copy the details from your online banking.

The amount you receive is often less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank – the price list of Union Bancaire Privee tells you what applies. On invoices, you can agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Why Union Bancaire Privee has an 8- and an 11-character code

The layout of a BIC never changes: four characters for the institution, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code, plus an optional branch code. That gives you NFZBBSNS, the short form of the code.

The 11-character version adds a three-character extension that identify a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, they simply mean the head office, which is why NFZBBSNSXXX and NFZBBSNS lead to the same place.

As a rule the code is written in capitals. Pasting the code beats retyping it, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Before you send: check the Union Bancaire Privee code

Have the recipient copy their account details straight from a recent statement. When the code you were given does not match NFZBBSNS or NFZBBSNSXXX, do not guess: check with the recipient or with Union Bancaire Privee directly.

Mistakes in the SWIFT code tend to be costly more than disastrous: often the payment comes back, minus fees. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there can be harder to undo than a wrong code.

A validity check in your banking app merely confirms that the IBAN exists, not that it is the right account. Some banks now check the payee name with the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. Sending a small amount first is worth it for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Union Bancaire Privee

Having 2 codes in 1 locations, Union Bancaire Privee belongs to the banks that use individual codes for branches. The head office code is NFZBBSNSXXX.

In most cases you do not need to look up a branch: transfers addressed to NFZBBSNSXXX reach Union Bancaire Privee correctly. Branch codes are only needed if the account holder explicitly mentions it, which is more common for corporate accounts and trade services.

Unsure which code to use? Check with the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Union Bancaire Privee. Branch codes are more likely to change than NFZBBSNSXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Scammers regularly send fake invoices with new bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

Always verify changed bank details by phone on a number you know, not one from the message. Urgency and secrecy are warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. When money has already gone to the wrong account, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Recipients are targeted too: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to refund the difference to another account. Wait until the money has really arrived and check with Union Bancaire Privee if anything seems off.

When will the money arrive at Union Bancaire Privee?

There is no single answer for international payments: many land within a day while others need several business days. Payments made after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often go out a business day later. Occasionally a bank asks about the purpose of a payment before releasing it.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services usually provide a status online showing where the payment has got.

If the money does not arrive after a few business days, the sender should start with their own bank rather than Union Bancaire Privee. Ask the sender for the payment receipt.

What a transfer from Union Bancaire Privee abroad really costs

An international bank payment costs more than the fee suggests. You pay the fee for the transfer itself, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup.

Banks do not list the margin on the rate separately, but you pay it all the same. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

Specialist money transfer services often use a rate near the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares what recipients receive with different services. You can still keep your account at Union Bancaire Privee, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.