Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. SWIFT/BIC code

What BBVABEBB means for a payment to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.

If an invoice shows BBVABEBB or BBVABEBBXXX, it is the identical identifier for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. in Belgium. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to route international transfers to the right bank. In daily life you usually see it on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and on the account details of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. customers.

On this page you can read how the code means, when you need it and what else you need for a transfer to or from Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.. Remember that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the person: the IBAN or account number does that part.

Is BBVABEBB still correct? How to check

The most reliable place for the right code remains a document from the bank itself like a bank statement or the account page in online banking. When the code you were given does not match BBVABEBB or BBVABEBBXXX, do not guess.

With a wrong code, the payment may get stuck, bounce back or end up costing more – sometimes after weeks of searching. Do not forget the account number: an error there is harder to correct than a wrong BIC.

Many banking apps check the structure of an IBAN, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. Where available, a name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. For a first payment, many people start with a small test amount and wait for confirmation.

Which of the 2 codes of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. do you need?

With 2 codes in 1 cities, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. is one of the banks that register individual codes for branches. The main code remains BBVABEBBXXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with BBVABEBBXXX. A branch code only makes sense if the account holder explicitly mentions it.

The best way is to copy the code straight from the recipient’s bank details. Codes can change over time.

Watch out for payment fraud

Stay alert if someone suddenly asks you to pay into a different account. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Verify new payment details via a different channel, not by replying to the message. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet tend to be red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. When money was sent to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Recipients are targeted too: a classic trick is an overpayment followed by a request to send back the difference. Do not act before the money is actually in your account – ask Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. if something looks wrong.

How up to date is this code?

The directory on GoldexPay draws on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Counts and locations are from our own dataset and are not confirmed by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A..

Treat our data as a reference, rather than as the final word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. We are a comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message.

BBVABEBB or BBVABEBBXXX – which one to use?

Each SWIFT/BIC code has the same eight core characters: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. The result is BBVABEBB.

Most payment forms accept either length. If a form requires eleven characters, use BBVABEBBXXX.

In practice the code is typed in capitals and without spaces. A wrong letter may route a payment to another bank, so check it twice.

Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

The national currency of Belgium is the Euro (EUR). A payment in a foreign currency will be exchanged into EUR on its way to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Each conversion eats into the amount.

Who does the conversion has an effect on how much arrives. In many cases you pay less if you send EUR directly through a provider with a good rate.

Rates for EUR change during the day, and some providers let you lock in a rate. With bigger transfers, a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

Receiving money from abroad at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.

When you are waiting for money from abroad, give the sender all details at once. Give them your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC BBVABEBBXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Some sending banks want the bank’s address in Brussels, so keep it at hand. Double-check each detail before you send them.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank – the price list of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

Do you need BBVABEBB for a SEPA transfer?

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. follow common rules, so the IBAN does the job in most cases. The BIC field is usually optional or missing in that case.

For anything other than euros and from non-SEPA countries, BBVABEBBXXX or BBVABEBB remains part of the payment details. A few forms still ask for the BIC out of habit; in that case, enter BBVABEBB or BBVABEBBXXX.

Instant payments in euros are increasingly supported across SEPA. Fees for SEPA payments are generally low as long as everything stays in euros.

Paying someone abroad from your Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. account

If you transfer money abroad from Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A., the fee you see is only part of what you pay. There is the fee for the transfer itself, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee: many banks convert at a rate that includes a margin. An easy check: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a bank. GoldexPay lists transfer providers next to each other, showing the amount the recipient gets. You can still keep your account at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. to fund the transfer.

How long does an international transfer to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. take?

A SWIFT payment usually needs anywhere from one to several business days. Bank holidays in either country add a day or more. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also cause a delay, even when all details are correct.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask your bank for the status and the transaction reference. Money transfer services often provide a status online showing how far the money is.

The bank that sent the money can request a trace or a recall – the recipient’s bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Ask the sender for the payment receipt; that often settles the question quickly.