First National Bank of Botswana Limited SWIFT/BIC code

FIRNBWGX – the SWIFT/BIC code of First National Bank of Botswana Limited

FIRNBWGX and FIRNBWGXXXX are two spellings of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to First National Bank of Botswana Limited in Gaborone. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment which institution is meant to get the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. It comes up mostly for transfers between countries or a currency.

On this page you can read how the code means, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from First National Bank of Botswana Limited requires. A SWIFT code identifies a bank or branch, never a specific account, which is why you always need the account number too.

A note on our data

The details here are taken from publicly available data that we update regularly. Institutions reorganise, change names and retire codes, and a directory never catches every change immediately. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset and may differ from what First National Bank of Botswana Limited publishes.

See our directory here as a handy check, and let the details from the recipient or First National Bank of Botswana Limited have the final say. We are a comparison service for money transfers and not affiliated with First National Bank of Botswana Limited. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a short note.

Tracking a transfer to or from First National Bank of Botswana Limited

A SWIFT payment typically takes anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Transfers sent late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday usually go out the next business day. Occasionally a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment before releasing it.

If a transfer is delayed, ask your bank for the tracking status or the UETR; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Money transfer services usually provide tracking online showing how far the money is.

Only the sending bank is able to start an official trace. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation with the date and reference – it helps your own bank look for the money.

Watch out for payment fraud

Stay alert when someone unexpectedly wants you to send money to another account. That FIRNBWGX is a real code does not mean that the account is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Never trust contact details in the same message that announces the change. Watch out for time pressure, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. When a payment has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams also target the receiver. Someone claims to have sent too much and asks you to refund the difference via a different route. Wait until the money has really arrived.

Getting paid from abroad into a First National Bank of Botswana Limited account

A sender in another country will ask for several details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. Share your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, the BIC FIRNBWGXXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Their bank may also ask for the address of your bank. A mistake in your account number can be more trouble than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank; check the price list of First National Bank of Botswana Limited. For business payments, you can agree who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

Sending money abroad from First National Bank of Botswana Limited

What you pay for a payment abroad has more than one component. Besides a fixed fee, banks in between can take a cut, and if the money changes currency, the bank often uses a rate below the actual market rate.

Banks do not show their exchange rate markup separately – you only notice it if you compare. Compare their rate against the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service is cheaper than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives across services, so you can pick the cheapest route. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at First National Bank of Botswana Limited: you simply pay the service from your account.

Which of the 2 codes of First National Bank of Botswana Limited do you need?

Our database contains 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for First National Bank of Botswana Limited in 1 places. Besides the head office code FIRNBWGXXXX, there are codes for branches, departments or specific services.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with FIRNBWGXXXX. Branch codes are only needed if the account holder specifically mentions it.

Not sure which code to use? Check with the recipient, or look at a recent statement from First National Bank of Botswana Limited. Branch codes are more prone to change than FIRNBWGXXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Why First National Bank of Botswana Limited has an 8- and an 11-character code

Each SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and a two-character location code. That gives you FIRNBWGX for First National Bank of Botswana Limited.

Most payment forms work with either length. If a form requires eleven characters, use FIRNBWGXXXX.

Enter the code as one block, in capitals and without separators. Look out for O versus 0 and I versus 1, a common source of typos.

Verifying the SWIFT code of First National Bank of Botswana Limited

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. Check that code with FIRNBWGX here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there can be harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

Most online banking apps check the format of IBANs – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a payee name check on the recipient gives an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first is a sensible step for a large first payment despite the extra fee.