Bank of India SWIFT/BIC code

What BKIDBE22 means for a payment to Bank of India

BKIDBE22 and BKIDBE22XXX are two ways of writing the same bank identifier, and both point to Bank of India in Antwerpen. The code does one job: it makes sure that money from abroad ends up at the right bank. You will need it mainly for payments that cross a border.

On this page you will find what the code means, when you need it and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Bank of India. The SWIFT code alone does not identify an individual account holder; that is what the account number or IBAN is for.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We collect bank codes using publicly available data and update our list from time to time. It can happen that information here is out of date, for example after a merger. Figures such as the number of codes are from our directory and are not confirmed by Bank of India.

Treat our data as a reference, not as the last word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers and not part of Bank of India. Found outdated information? Tell us through the contact page and we will look into it.

Paying Bank of India in euros within SEPA

Belgium is a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). When you send euros within SEPA, the IBAN is usually enough.

Outside the euro and for senders outside SEPA, BKIDBE22XXX or BKIDBE22 remains part of the payment details. A few forms still show a field for the BIC; if so, enter BKIDBE22.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land by the next business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. As long as no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer is inexpensive; it is the conversion that costs money.

Tracking a transfer to or from Bank of India

An international transfer usually takes anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Payments made late in the day or on weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments may also cause a delay, even when all details are correct.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank about the tracking status so they can trace it along the chain. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived.

A delayed transfer has to be investigated by the sending bank on the basis of the transfer details. Ask the sender for the payment receipt including the reference; that often settles the question quickly.

Bank of India: head office code versus branch codes

Bank of India has 2 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 cities. One of them is the head office code; the others belong to branches.

In most cases there is no need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to BKIDBE22XXX reach Bank of India correctly. Just use a branch code when the account holder explicitly asks for it.

The best way is to take the code straight from the recipient’s invoice. Branch codes can change when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

A common scam works like this: an email arrives with a request claiming that a supplier now has a new bank account and that the next payment should go there. That BKIDBE22 is a real code is no guarantee that the account is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Do not trust contact details from the same email that announces the change. Pressure or secrecy are red flags. When money has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Recipients can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to send back the difference. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Before you send: check the Bank of India code

Have the recipient send you the bank details straight from their banking app. When the code you were given differs from BKIDBE22 or BKIDBE22XXX, stop and ask.

An incorrect BIC can cause delays, a returned payment or extra fees. An error in the IBAN or account number can be a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person.

An automatic check in your banking app only confirms that the IBAN exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. Where available, a name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first can be worth it for large sums.

Incoming international payments to Bank of India

To receive an international payment at Bank of India, the person paying you needs not just the BIC. What they need is: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, BKIDBE22XXX or BKIDBE22 and in many cases your home address.

Their bank may also ask for the address of your bank. Double-check every detail before you share them.

Expect that the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank – the price list of Bank of India tells you what applies. On invoices, you can agree how the fees are split.

Paying someone abroad from your Bank of India account

An international bank payment costs rather more than the fee suggests. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate.

Many banks do not show their exchange rate markup separately. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay compares what recipients receive across services. You can always use your account at Bank of India as the source of the money.

Why Bank of India has an 8- and an 11-character code

A SWIFT code is built from a few fixed parts: characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six give the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. Combined, those parts form BKIDBE22 – the version you usually see online.

Many banks and apps work with either length. If a form requires eleven characters, enter BKIDBE22XXX, otherwise BKIDBE22 is fine.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Look out for the letter O and the digit 0 and the letter I and the digit 1, a common source of typos.

The Euro and what conversion costs you

The currency of Belgium is the Euro (EUR). If you send money in a different currency, the amount has to be converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or Bank of India itself. Every conversion eats into something – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Sending the amount directly in EUR usually avoids a second conversion by Bank of India, provided the rate you get is fair.

The EUR rate changes throughout the day, so the amount you see is usually only valid for a short time. For recurring payments, a slightly better rate make a real difference over time.