Bank of Nova Scotia SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Bank of Nova Scotia

If an invoice shows NOSCCATT or NOSCCATTXXX, it is the identical identifier for Bank of Nova Scotia in Canada. Banks worldwide use these codes to route payments between countries to the right bank. You will need it mostly for payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

On this page you can read what the code is put together, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from Bank of Nova Scotia requires. Keep in mind that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the account: the account number or IBAN does that part.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

A common scam goes like this: you receive a request claiming that a supplier now has a new bank account and that the next payment should go there. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine – scammers simply use real codes.

Always confirm changed bank details by phone on a number you know, not one from the message. Pressure and secrecy are warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If a payment was sent to the wrong account, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference abroad. Do not act before the money is actually in your account and check with Bank of Nova Scotia if anything seems off.

What the XXX in NOSCCATTXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. Together, those parts make up NOSCCATT, the code most people search for.

Most payment forms work with both lengths. If yours asks for eleven characters, use NOSCCATTXXX; if it wants eight, use NOSCCATT.

As a rule the code is written in capitals, without spaces or dashes. A wrong character may route a payment to a different institution, so copy it carefully.

Bank of Nova Scotia: head office code versus branch codes

Bank of Nova Scotia has 26 separate SWIFT/BIC codes. One of them is the head office code; the rest belong to branches or departments.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, use NOSCCATTXXX or its short form NOSCCATT. Just use a branch code when your contact gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

The best way is to take the code straight from the account holder’s bank details. Branch codes are more prone to be retired than NOSCCATTXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Tracking a transfer to or from Bank of Nova Scotia

How quickly a transfer reaches Bank of Nova Scotia is determined by a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Payments made late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday often start the next business day. Extra checks by one of the banks may also cause some delay.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every payment gets a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Specialist transfer services usually provide tracking online showing how far the money is.

If the money does not arrive after a few business days, the sender should start with the bank that sent it. As a recipient, it helps to check your statements to see a partial amount.

Getting paid from abroad into a Bank of Nova Scotia account

To receive a transfer from abroad at Bank of Nova Scotia, the person paying you needs not just the SWIFT code. The basics are: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, NOSCCATTXXX or NOSCCATT and in many cases your postal address.

The sender’s bank may request the bank address of Bank of Nova Scotia; the head office in Toronto is usually fine. A typo in your account number can be harder to fix than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the currency changes, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

Sending CAD to Bank of Nova Scotia

Accounts at Bank of Nova Scotia are typically held in CAD, the national currency. Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into CAD, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate charge for the conversion.

Who does the conversion has an effect on how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Compare what CAD the recipient gets via different providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect.

Rates for CAD change all the time, and some providers let you lock in a rate. On larger amounts, a seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

About this information

This directory is based on public sources and we update it periodically. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes. Counts and locations are from our directory.

See our directory on this page as a helpful check, and let the details from the recipient or Bank of Nova Scotia have the final say. GoldexPay is independent of Bank of Nova Scotia; we are a comparison site for money transfers. If you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a message.

Before you send: check the Bank of Nova Scotia code

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a bank statement or their online banking. Check it with NOSCCATT on this page and ask if anything does not match.

Mistakes in the BIC are annoying more than fatal. A mistake in the IBAN or account number can be more serious.

Many banking apps validate the structure of an IBAN – that confirms the format, not the owner. Some banks now check the payee name against the account before you confirm. A small test payment can be worth it for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Paying someone abroad from your Bank of Nova Scotia account

What you pay for an international transfer has several parts. On top of the transfer fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may take a cut, and if currencies are converted, the bank often uses a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest cost. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. Next time you send money, take a minute to compare the total cost via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Bank of Nova Scotia – you pay the provider from your own account.