SWIFT/BIC codes in Canada

Finding a SWIFT code in Canada

This overview covers 395 banks and financial institutions in Canada and 613 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. A BIC shows every bank in the chain which institution should receive an international payment.

Every bank is listed with its own page showing the head office code and if there are any, branch codes. Further down you can read how a code from Canada is put together, how to send money to Canada without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

About our data and how to check a code

The safest source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. A wrong code can cause a delay, a returned payment or extra fees, so compare it with the list on this page.

We collect bank codes from publicly available data and update them from time to time. Still, banks merge or retire codes. For any payment of any size, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and has no link to the banks in this list.

Be wary of invoices with a new account. Before paying, confirm a change of bank details through a separate channel on a number you know.

Paying in CAD: what conversion costs you

Canada pays in the Canadian Dollar (CAD). Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into CAD before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Who does the conversion affects the final amount. In many cases you pay less if you send CAD straight away via a provider with a good rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. On larger amounts, even a small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

Incoming international payments in Canada

For a transfer from abroad in Canada, the person paying you needs more than the SWIFT code. That means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your postal address.

The code of your bank is in the list on this page. You can include your bank’s name and city because some forms have separate fields for it.

The amount you receive can be lower than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Paying a bank in Canada from abroad

For Canada you almost always need the BIC – Canada is not a SEPA country. Without it, most banks cannot send the transfer.

Not every country uses the IBAN. Check with the recipient exactly which details their bank requires for incoming international payments – many banks give clear instructions for this. On the way to Canada, a payment may go through correspondent banks that charge for their part.

Most SWIFT codes in Canada: Ss and C Technologies Canada Corp

Ss and C Technologies Canada Corp leads the list for Canada in SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Ss and C Technologies Canada Corp uses FMCCCATMXXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Many codes often means separate codes for branches, departments or services, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Paying someone at Ss and C Technologies Canada Corp? Go with FMCCCATMXXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Canada

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long. It starts with four letters for the bank, then a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

For banks in Canada, letters five and six show the two-letter ISO code of Canada – that is the quickest way to spot one. When the country letters do not match Canada, you are looking at a bank in another country – worth double-checking.

The last three characters, if present, stand for a specific branch; XXX is used for the head office. Use a branch code only when the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Bank or transfer service for Canada?

A bank transfer to Canada can cost rather more than the fee suggests. Besides the fee, correspondent banks can take a cut, and when the money is converted the bank often uses a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in Canada across services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

Transfer times to Canada

An international transfer to Canada usually needs anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often start the next business day.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi. Every gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms; a bank needs it to start a trace.