SWIFT/BIC codes in China: banks starting with A

Bank SWIFT codes for China

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 668 banks in China. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain which institution should receive an international payment.

Each bank is listed with its own page showing its main code and, where available, branch codes. The rest of this page explain the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing before a payment.

Incoming international payments in China

When you are waiting for a payment from another country in China, send the payer all details at once. That means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your address.

Your bank’s code appears in the list on this page but always compare it with your own bank details. Certain sending banks also ask for your bank’s address, so keep it at hand.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. For business payments, agree who bears the costs, so nobody is left short.

International payments to China and the BIC

For China you usually need the BIC, because the country is outside the SEPA area. Without the BIC, your bank cannot process the transfer at all.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a local account number rather than an IBAN. Check with the recipient which details their bank needs for payments from abroad – many banks give clear instructions for this. SWIFT payments sometimes go via correspondent banks and fees can be taken along the way.

Verifying a SWIFT code from China

The most reliable place for the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. When the code you were given differs from the code listed here, stop and ask – contact the recipient or their bank.

This list is compiled from public sources that we update periodically. Institutions reorganise, close branches and change codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. For any payment that matters, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Be wary of payment requests with a new account – a common fraud method. Always confirm a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had.

Filter: banks in China with :letter

This list shows only banks in China whose name starts with :letter in alphabetical order. The figures for China mentioned here apply to all 668 banks, not just the ones under :letter.

If a bank is missing under :letter, check another letter. Use the full list for China if you are not sure the exact name.

Recognising a SWIFT code from China

A SWIFT code is 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. First comes four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

Whatever the bank, every code from China share the same fifth and sixth letters, namely the ISO code of China. If those two letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank in another country, so check again.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the head office and the short version works just as well. Choose a branch code only if the recipient’s bank asks for it.

Which bank in China has the most codes?

Among the 668 institutions we list, Bank of Communications has the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in China. Its main office uses COMMCNSHXXX and that code covers most payments.

A large number of codes usually means that the bank registers branches and departments separately, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Paying someone at Bank of Communications? Use COMMCNSHXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

China and the Chinese Yuan

China pays in the Chinese Yuan, with the currency code CNY. Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into CNY before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Check how much CNY arrives via several providers before choosing one. Rates for CNY move all the time, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

Transfer times to China

A SWIFT payment to China typically takes one to a few business days. Transfers sent late in the day or on weekends and holidays usually start the next business day.

If the money seems delayed, the sender should contact the sending bank – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Specialist transfer services often show tracking in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Sending money to China for less

If you send money to China with a regular bank, the fee you see is only part of what you pay. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the biggest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. Compare the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites. The difference is your real cost.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. Before you send money to China, take a minute comparing the total cost via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.