HSBC Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of HSBC Bank PLC

The 8-character code HSBCBEBB and the 11-character code HSBCBEBBXXX identify one and the same institution: HSBC Bank PLC, with its head office in Brussels. Banks worldwide use these codes to direct payments between countries to the right bank. You will need it mostly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

On this page you can read what the code means, when you need it and what else a transfer to or from HSBC Bank PLC requires. A SWIFT code names an institution, never a specific account, which is why you always need the account number too.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Stay alert if someone suddenly wants you to pay into another account. The fact that HSBCBEBB exists does not mean that the account is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Verify changed bank details through a different channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, never via the email that asked for the change. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet tend to be warning signs – a real supplier can wait a day. If money has already gone to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams can also target the receiver. Someone claims to have sent too much and asks you to refund the extra to a new account. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing – check your own account.

Before you send: check the HSBC Bank PLC code

Ask the recipient to copy the account details directly from their banking app. Compare that code against HSBCBEBB on this page and ask if anything does not match.

An incorrect BIC can cause a delay, a returned payment or additional charges along the way. Remember the account number: a mistake there is more difficult to correct than a wrong BIC.

Most online banking apps validate the structure of IBANs – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a payee name check on the recipient gives extra certainty. A small test payment can be worth it for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of HSBC Bank PLC

We have 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for HSBC Bank PLC. Next to the head office code HSBCBEBBXXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code HSBCBEBBXXX works fine. Only use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time.

Sending money abroad from HSBC Bank PLC

The price of a payment abroad has several parts, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest item because it is hidden in the rate. A simple test: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay lists these services next to each other, showing what actually arrives. You can always keep your account at HSBC Bank PLC; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Receiving money from abroad at HSBC Bank PLC

When you expect money from abroad, send the payer all details at once. What they need is: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, HSBCBEBBXXX and, for some countries, your home address.

The sender’s bank might also ask for the bank address of HSBC Bank PLC. A mistake in the IBAN is harder to fix than it looks, so copy the details from your online banking.

An incoming payment does not always land in full. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, HSBC Bank PLC may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

The Euro and what conversion costs you

Accounts at HSBC Bank PLC are usually held in EUR, the national currency. Money sent in a different currency will be converted into EUR before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Every conversion costs something – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount. Compare what EUR the recipient gets via several providers before choosing one.

The EUR rate fluctuates constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. On larger amounts, a seemingly small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

Why HSBC Bank PLC has an 8- and an 11-character code

Every SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and two characters for the location. For HSBC Bank PLC, that core is HSBCBEBB.

The 11-character version adds three more characters that identify a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, they simply mean the head office, so HSBCBEBBXXX and HSBCBEBB are interchangeable.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Pasting the code is safer than retyping it, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Do you need HSBCBEBB for a SEPA transfer?

Belgium is a member of the SEPA area, the zone for standardised euro payments. When you send euros from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

A SWIFT code like HSBCBEBB still come into play when the currency is not euros, and for transfers from outside SEPA. If a payment form asks for the BIC anyway, entering HSBCBEBB is fine.

Instant payments in euros are widely supported within SEPA; check with HSBC Bank PLC whether it applies to your account. As long as the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer tends to be cheap; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

How long does an international transfer to HSBC Bank PLC take?

An international transfer usually needs one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Weekends and public holidays in either country can add a day or more to the journey. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments may also cause a delay, regardless of the details.

If the money seems late, ask your bank about the tracking status and the transaction reference; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Money transfer services often show tracking online showing how far the payment has got.

A delayed transfer is investigated from the sending side, using the payment confirmation. Ask the sender for the payment receipt.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes here come from public sources. Still, banks merge or retire codes and our data may lag behind. Figures such as the number of codes are from our own dataset and may differ from what HSBC Bank PLC publishes.

Use our data as a starting point, rather than as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is not affiliated with HSBC Bank PLC, we only compare transfer services. If you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a short note.