BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV)

If an invoice shows GEBABEBB or GEBABEBBXXX, you are looking at the identical address for BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) in Belgium. A BIC has a single purpose: it ensures that money from abroad ends up at the right bank. It comes up mainly for payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

We wrote this page to help anyone who receives money at an account at BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) without mistakes. The BIC identifies a bank or branch, not a specific account.

How long does an international transfer to BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) take?

An international transfer typically takes 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 just before weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later. Extra checks by one of the banks may also cause some delay.

If the money is delayed, ask your bank about the tracking status and the transaction reference. Specialist transfer services usually show tracking in their app showing where the payment has got.

The bank that sent the money can start an official trace or a recall. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation with the date and reference.

Do you need GEBABEBB for a SEPA transfer?

Belgium is part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the zone for standardised euro payments. When you send euros within SEPA, you normally only need the IBAN and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

You will still need GEBABEBBXXX when sending payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Some forms also ask for the BIC; in that case, enter GEBABEBB.

Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive within one business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Charges on SEPA transfers tend to be low as long as everything stays in euros.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes on this page are taken from public sources. Banks reorganise, change names and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. The number of codes we show reflect our own data and not on information from BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) itself.

Use our data as a starting point, rather than as the final word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. We are a comparison service and not affiliated with BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV). If you notice a mistake, we welcome a message via the contact page.

What a transfer from BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) abroad really costs

The price of a payment abroad is made up of more than one component. There is the transfer fee, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares these services next to each other so you can see what actually arrives before you commit. You can always keep your account at BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV); only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Sending EUR to BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV)

Belgium uses the Euro, code EUR. When you pay money in a different currency it gets converted somewhere along the way. You rarely see a separate charge for the conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Which bank converts the money matters. Often it is cheaper to send EUR straight away via a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert.

Rates for EUR move all the time, and some providers let you lock in a rate. With bigger transfers, even seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Incoming international payments to BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV)

To receive an international payment into your account at BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV), the sender needs more than the SWIFT code. Give them your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, SWIFT code GEBABEBBXXX and your address, which some banks require.

It helps to add the bank name and Brussels as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A mistake in your account number is more trouble than it looks, so copy the details from your online banking.

What lands in your account is often lower than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank – the price list of BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) tells you what applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Watch out for payment fraud

Stay wary when a contact suddenly wants you to pay into a different account abroad. A correct SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Never trust contact details from the same email that contains the change. Be suspicious of time pressure, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. If money has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud also target the receiver: someone sends more than agreed and asks you to refund the difference via a different route. A payment confirmation from the sender is no proof – check your own account.

8 or 11 characters: GEBABEBB versus GEBABEBBXXX

Every SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. The result is GEBABEBB, the short form of the code.

XXX at the end of GEBABEBBXXX is not a placeholder or a mistake: it stands for the main office of BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV). Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, and then you simply enter XXX behind GEBABEBB.

In practice the code is written in capitals, without spaces or dashes. Watch for O versus 0 or the letter I and the digit 1; they are easy to mix up.

Which of the 33 codes of BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) do you need?

Our directory lists 33 SWIFT/BIC codes for BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) in 26 places. Besides the head office code GEBABEBBXXX, you will find codes for branches, departments or specific services.

In most cases there is no need to pick a branch: transfers sent to GEBABEBBXXX reach BNP Paribas Fortis (Fortis Bank SA/NV) correctly. Only use a branch code when the recipient explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

The safest route is to copy the code directly from the account holder’s invoice. Codes can change when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

How to check GEBABEBB before you pay

The safest source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. If the code you have does not match GEBABEBB or GEBABEBBXXX, stop and ask.

If the code is wrong, the transfer might get stuck, bounce back or end up costing more – sometimes after weeks of searching. An error in the IBAN or account number is more serious; check it just as carefully.

A validity check by your bank merely tells you that the code is valid, not that it is the right account. More and more banks check the name with the account. For a first payment, some people send a small amount first before sending the rest.