SWIFT/BIC codes in Belgium: banks starting with G

Finding a SWIFT code in Belgium

In Belgium our database holds 651 SWIFT/BIC codes. Every code points to an institution or one of its branches.

Each bank is listed with its own page showing the head office code and, where available, codes for branches and departments. Further down we explain how a code from Belgium is put together, how to send money there at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

The largest SWIFT network in Belgium: BNP Paribas Securities Services, Belgium

In our data, BNP Paribas Securities Services, Belgium holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Belgium. The head office uses PARBBEBZXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

Practice differs in whether they register branch codes – a high count is not a measure of size. Making a payment to BNP Paribas Securities Services, Belgium? Use PARBBEBZXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Belgium

When you are waiting for money from abroad in Belgium, send the payer everything they need in one go. Give them the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Find the bank in the list on this page and compare the code with your own bank details – your bank statement is the final word. Some banks also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Belgium and the Euro

Belgium uses the Euro. When you pay another currency, it gets converted at some point.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. Often you pay less to send EUR straight away via a transfer service with a good rate. Rates for EUR move all the time – some providers let you lock in a rate.

The cheapest way to send money to Belgium

A bank transfer to Belgium can cost rather more than the fee suggests. Besides a fixed fee, intermediary banks may deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank usually uses a rate below the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers often use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay lists transfer services side by side, showing the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.

The structure of a Belgium SWIFT/BIC code

A SWIFT code is 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and the next two give the location.

No matter which bank, every code from Belgium have the same country code in positions five and six. Codes with other letters in that position belong to another country.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the main office. Choose a branch code just if the recipient explicitly gives you one – otherwise stick with the head office.

SWIFT codes in Belgium: banks under :letter

The letter filter narrows the list to banks from Belgium that begin with :letter, so you can find a bank faster. The figures for Belgium mentioned here apply to all 333 banks, not just the ones under :letter.

If a bank does not appear here, check the full list. The complete list is one click away when you cannot find the bank here.

About our data and how to check a code

Have the recipient send you their bank details directly from their banking app. An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.

This list is based on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Still, banks merge or change codes, so information can be out of date. Treat this list as a starting point rather than the last word. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Be wary of invoices containing changed bank details – a common fraud method. A valid BIC says nothing about who owns the account.

Paying in euros to Belgium

Inside SEPA, euro transfers to Belgium follow the same rules, so the IBAN does the job in most cases. The BIC field is often optional in that case.

A SWIFT code still matter when the currency is not euros and when the money comes from outside SEPA. Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive by the next business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. As long as the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer tends to be cheap.

How long does a transfer to Belgium take?

A SWIFT payment to Belgium usually needs one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before weekends and holidays often start the next business day.

If a transfer seems delayed, ask the sender to contact their own bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Keep the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms; a bank needs it to start a trace.