SWIFT/BIC codes in Belgium: banks starting with K

Bank SWIFT codes for Belgium

In Belgium our database holds 651 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 333 banks. You need such a code mainly for payments across borders and for payments in a foreign currency.

Look for the bank you need in the list and open its page to see all codes we have and what else a transfer requires. The sections below covers the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing before a payment.

Tracking a payment to Belgium

There is no fixed answer for payments to Belgium: many arrive the same day or the next. Public holidays in Belgium or in the sending country can add extra days to the journey.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived; a bank needs it to start a trace.

Sending EUR to Belgium

Belgium pays in the Euro. Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into EUR before it reaches the account.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount. In many cases it is cheaper to send EUR directly through a provider that converts near the mid-market rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Exchange rates change during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

BNP Paribas Securities Services, Belgium and its SWIFT codes

BNP Paribas Securities Services, Belgium tops the list of Belgium banks when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its main office uses PARBBEBZXXX.

Many codes usually means that the bank registers branches and departments separately. Paying someone at BNP Paribas Securities Services, Belgium? Go with PARBBEBZXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Belgium and the SEPA area

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

The BIC 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 or faster with instant payments. Costs stay low as long as no currency is converted.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Belgium

SWIFT/BIC codes use the same format worldwide: 8 characters plus an optional three-character extension. The first four letters stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters form the country code and characters seven and eight mark the location.

In every code from Belgium, characters five and six show the ISO country code of Belgium. If those two letters do not match Belgium, the code belongs to a bank in another country.

The long version adds a branch code, where XXX means the head office. Use a branch code just if the recipient explicitly gives you one.

What a transfer to Belgium really costs

What you pay for a payment to Belgium has more than one component – not only the fee you see. There is a transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest part of the cost. An easy check: set the offered rate against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers frequently use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. On GoldexPay you can compare the amount that arrives in Belgium with different providers, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

Filter: banks in Belgium with :letter

This filter limits the list down to banks from Belgium that begin with :letter to make searching quicker. The totals mentioned here cover all 333 banks.

If a bank does not appear under :letter, try the full list – the registered name can differ from the name people use. The full overview for Belgium remains available when the letter filter does not help.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable place for the right code is a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. A wrong code may lead to delays, a returned payment or extra fees.

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from public sources. Institutions merge, close branches and change codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. For a payment that matters, check the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is a comparison service for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Watch out for payment requests containing a new account. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

Incoming international payments in Belgium

When you are waiting for money from abroad in Belgium, send the payer a complete set of details. In practice that means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your postal address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. You can include the name and city of your bank as well.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank; check the price list of your bank. On invoices, state who bears the costs, so nobody is left short.