SWIFT/BIC codes in Canada: banks starting with B

Bank SWIFT codes for Canada

On this page you find codes for 395 institutions in Canada, 613 codes in all. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain which institution should receive an international payment.

Look for the bank you need below and click through to see all codes we have. Further down you can read how codes from Canada are built, how to send money to Canada without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

The largest SWIFT network in Canada: Ss and C Technologies Canada Corp

Among the 395 institutions we list, Ss and C Technologies Canada Corp holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Canada. The head office of Ss and C Technologies Canada Corp has FMCCCATMXXX.

Banks differ in whether they register branch codes, so the count is not a ranking of size. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code FMCCCATMXXX works for transfers to this bank.

Sending CAD to Canada

The currency in Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). When you pay another currency, it has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Which bank converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Check how much CAD arrives via different providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

Tracking a payment to Canada

How fast a payment arrives in Canada is determined by a few things: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Bank holidays in Canada or in the sending country add a day or more to the journey.

If the money seems delayed, ask the sender to contact their own bank. Money transfer services often show a status online, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

SWIFT transfers to Canada

Because Canada does not belong to SEPA, a transfer from abroad normally goes through SWIFT. That means the payment always needs the BIC of the recipient’s bank in addition to the account details.

In some countries, accounts are identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN. The receiving bank often provides a list of required details for payments from abroad, and it is worth following them to the letter. International transfers sometimes go via one or more intermediary banks and fees can be taken along the way.

Bank or transfer service for Canada?

An international bank payment to Canada often costs more than the fee suggests. There is a transfer fee, possibly fees from correspondent banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. On GoldexPay you can compare the amount that arrives in Canada with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route.

Banks in Canada beginning with the letter :letter

Here you see a filtered list: only banks in Canada whose name begins with :letter. The figures for Canada on this page apply to all 395 banks, not just the ones under :letter.

Cannot find the bank? Its official name might start with a different letter, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. Use the full list for Canada if you do not know how the name is spelled.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Canada

The best place to find the right code is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. If the code you have does not match our list, do not guess.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and update them regularly. Banks reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. For a payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is not a bank and has no link to the banks in this list.

Be wary of invoices containing a new account. A valid BIC tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine: criminals use real codes too.

What the letters in a Canada BIC mean

Each SWIFT/BIC code has 8 or 11 characters in a fixed order. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six are the country code and the next two mark the location.

You can recognise a bank code from Canada by the fifth and sixth characters. When those two letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank in another country, so check again.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Canada

If you are waiting for money from abroad on an account in Canada, send the payer everything they need in one go. Share your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Look up the bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details – your bank statement is the final word. You can add the name and city of your bank as well.

Expect that the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.