Banco Central do Brasil SWIFT/BIC code

Banco Central do Brasil SWIFT code: BCBRBRDF

BCBRBRDF and BCBRBRDFXXX are the short and the long form of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Banco Central do Brasil in Brasilia. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to direct international transfers to the right bank. In daily life you usually see the code on international invoices, in your banking app and on the account details that Banco Central do Brasil provides.

Below you will find the practical questions: receiving money at Banco Central do Brasil, sending money abroad and how to verify a SWIFT code before you hit send. The SWIFT code alone does not identify a personal account; that is what the account number or IBAN .

How up to date is this code?

The details here come from public sources that we update regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes and our data may lag behind. Counts and locations come from our own dataset.

Use this page as a starting point, not as the last word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. GoldexPay is independent of Banco Central do Brasil. Should you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a short note.

What a transfer from Banco Central do Brasil abroad really costs

A bank transfer abroad costs rather more than the fee suggests. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from correspondent banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee: many banks convert at a rate that includes a margin. An easy check: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

Money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate. On GoldexPay we compare what recipients receive across providers. Using a transfer service does not mean leaving Banco Central do Brasil – you pay the provider from your own account.

Is BCBRBRDF still correct? How to check

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a bank statement or their online banking. If the code you have differs from BCBRBRDF or BCBRBRDFXXX, stop and ask.

If the code is wrong, the transfer might be delayed, be returned or end up costing more. An error in the account number can be a bigger problem.

An automatic check in your banking app only tells you that the IBAN is valid, not that it is the right account. Some banks now compare the name against the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. For a first payment, many people start with a small test amount before sending the rest.

Paying into Banco Central do Brasil in BRL

The currency of Brazil is the Brazilian Real (BRL). A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into BRL on its way to Banco Central do Brasil. Every conversion costs something.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. Sending the amount already in BRL often avoids a second conversion at the receiving end – as long as your own rate is good.

Rates for BRL change during the day – some services let you fix a rate in advance. With bigger transfers, even seemingly small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Getting paid from abroad into a Banco Central do Brasil account

To receive an international payment into your account at Banco Central do Brasil, the sender needs not just the BIC. That means: your name as registered with Banco Central do Brasil, your IBAN or account number, the BIC BCBRBRDFXXX and sometimes your address.

You can add Banco Central do Brasil and Brasilia as well, since some forms ask for it. Double-check every detail before you share them.

The amount you receive is often lower than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank – the price list of Banco Central do Brasil tells you what applies. On invoices, you can state who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

When will the money arrive at Banco Central do Brasil?

A SWIFT payment typically takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Transfers sent late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday usually start the next business day. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also add some delay, regardless of the details.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask your bank about the tracking status or the UETR. Money transfer services often show a status online so you can see how far the payment is.

The bank that sent the money can request a trace. As a recipient, it helps to check your statements for a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Fraudsters regularly send fake invoices containing changed bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. The fact that BCBRBRDF exists does not mean that the account is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Never rely on contact details in the same message that announces the new account. Be suspicious of time pressure, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. Acted too fast? Call your bank without delay and have them try to recall the payment.

Fraud can also target the receiver. Someone sends more than agreed and asks you to return the extra to a new account. Wait until the money is actually in your account.

Which of the 3 codes of Banco Central do Brasil do you need?

Having 3 codes, Banco Central do Brasil belongs to the banks that register individual codes for parts of the organisation. The main code remains BCBRBRDFXXX.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code BCBRBRDFXXX works fine. Branch codes are only needed if the account holder specifically asks for it.

The safest route is to take the code directly from the account holder’s invoice. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Why Banco Central do Brasil has an 8- and an 11-character code

A SWIFT code is made up of fixed blocks: the first four letters identify the bank, the next two show the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. For Banco Central do Brasil, that core is BCBRBRDF.

Many payment forms accept either length. If yours asks for eleven characters, use BCBRBRDFXXX; if it wants eight, use BCBRBRDF.

As a rule the code is typed in capitals and without spaces. Copying the code beats typing it by hand, because one wrong letter changes the bank.