SWIFT/BIC codes in Burkina Faso

Bank SWIFT codes for Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso our database holds 20 SWIFT/BIC codes from 19 banks. Each code points to a bank or a specific branch or department, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Search for the recipient’s bank in the list and click through for all codes we have and what else a transfer requires. The rest of this page covers how the codes work, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing before you send money.

What a transfer to Burkina Faso really costs

If you transfer money to Burkina Faso via your bank, the stated fee is only part of what you pay. Besides a fixed fee, intermediary banks can take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a rate below the actual market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate – the bank builds a margin into its rate. An easy check: set the offered rate against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many routes, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. GoldexPay lists transfer services side by side so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. When the code you were given differs from our list, stop and ask – contact the recipient or their bank.

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from public sources that we update periodically. Banks reorganise, close branches and retire codes. Treat our data as a reference, not as the final word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Watch out for invoices with changed bank details, especially when they come by email. Always verify a change of bank details through a separate channel on a number you know.

Most SWIFT codes in Burkina Faso: Banque Centrale des Etats de L'afrique de L'ouest

Banque Centrale des Etats de L'afrique de L'ouest tops the list for Burkina Faso in SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is BCAOBFBFXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

Practice differs in how many codes they register – a high count is not a measure of size. If not the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code BCAOBFBFXXX works for transfers to this bank.

International payments to Burkina Faso and the BIC

To pay into Burkina Faso you will almost always need the BIC. Without it, most banks will not process the transfer.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Ask the recipient which details their bank needs for payments from abroad. On the way to Burkina Faso, a payment can pass through correspondent banks that charge for their part.

How long does a transfer to Burkina Faso take?

An international transfer to Burkina Faso usually needs one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Bank holidays in either country can add a day or more to the journey.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact their own bank; 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.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Burkina Faso

If you expect money from abroad in Burkina Faso, send the payer all details at once. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your address.

Your bank’s code appears in the list on this page. Certain banks also ask for the name and address of your bank, so keep it at hand.

The amount you receive can be lower than the amount sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin applies. For business payments, agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

The structure of a Burkina Faso SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC codes use the same format worldwide: eight characters plus an optional three-character extension. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

In every code from Burkina Faso, letters five and six show the ISO country code of Burkina Faso, which makes these codes easy to recognise. When those two letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else, so check again.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the main office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. For most transfers the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.