SWIFT/BIC codes in China: banks starting with B

Finding a SWIFT code in China

For China we have 2652 SWIFT/BIC codes. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get an international payment.

Every bank is listed with its own page showing the head office code and if there are any, codes for branches and departments. The rest of this page covers how the codes work, the cost of transfers and how to avoid mistakes before a payment.

SWIFT transfers to China

To pay into China you will almost always need the BIC. Without it, most banks will not send the transfer.

Depending on the country, the account is identified by a local account number instead of an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Check with the recipient which details their bank requires for payments from abroad – many banks give clear instructions for this. Before it arrives, a payment may pass through intermediary banks that take a fee.

Banks in China beginning with the letter :letter

This list shows only banks in China whose name starts with :letter in alphabetical order. The totals mentioned above always cover the whole country and not only this selection.

Cannot find the bank? Its official name may begin with another word, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. The full overview for China remains one click away if the letter filter does not help.

Verifying a SWIFT code from China

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. A wrong code can cause delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees – compare it with the code in our list.

This list is compiled from publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Banks reorganise, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Treat our data as a starting point rather than the last word: the bank details from the recipient come first. We are an independent comparison service and not part of any bank listed here.

Scammers regularly use fake invoices with changed bank details from what looks like a familiar address. Always verify a change of bank details by phone.

China and the Chinese Yuan

China uses the Chinese Yuan, with the currency code CNY. A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into CNY on its way to the recipient – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Who converts the payment matters. Compare what CNY the recipient gets with different services before choosing one. Exchange rates move all the time.

The cheapest way to send money to China

A bank transfer to China can cost rather more than you think. Besides the fee, correspondent banks may take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank often uses a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites.

For many routes, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. GoldexPay lists transfer services side by side so you can see what actually arrives in China for the same amount sent.

Tracking a payment to China

A SWIFT payment to China usually takes anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Public holidays in either country can add a day or more to the journey.

When a payment takes longer than expected, the sender should contact their own bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Specialist transfer services often show tracking in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Incoming international payments in China

When you are waiting for a payment from another country in China, give the sender a complete set of details. Give them the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Find the bank in the list above – your bank statement is the final word. Some sending banks may also want your bank’s address, so keep it at hand.

What lands in your account can be less than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank; check the price list of your bank. For business payments, state how the fees are split.

Recognising a SWIFT code from China

Every SWIFT/BIC code consists of eight or eleven characters. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six are the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

No matter which bank, every code from China have the same fifth and sixth letters. Codes with other letters in that position come from a bank abroad – a quick way to catch mistakes.

If the last three are XXX, it refers to the head office. Use a branch code only when the recipient’s bank asks for it.

Bank of Communications and its SWIFT codes

Of all banks we list for China, Bank of Communications is listed with the most SWIFT codes. The head office of Bank of Communications has COMMCNSHXXX and that code covers most payments.

How many codes a bank has tells you something about how it registers branches and services than about how big it is. Paying someone at Bank of Communications? Go with COMMCNSHXXX except when a specific branch code is requested.