SWIFT/BIC codes in China: banks starting with J

Finding a SWIFT code in China

Here you will find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 668 banks in China. A BIC tells every bank in the chain which institution is meant to get the money.

Search for the recipient’s bank in the list and click through to see the full list of codes. Below the list we explain how a code from China is put together, how to send money to China at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

Most SWIFT codes in China: Bank of Communications

Among the 668 institutions we list, Bank of Communications holds the most SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in China. The head office of Bank of Communications has COMMCNSHXXX.

Practice differs in how many codes they register, so the count is not a ranking of size. Paying someone at Bank of Communications? Go with COMMCNSHXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

SWIFT codes in China: banks under :letter

This page shows only banks in China beginning with :letter in alphabetical order. The counts in the introduction always cover the whole country.

Many institutions appear under their legal name rather than the name on their app or website. The full overview for China remains one click away if the letter filter does not help.

About our data and how to check a code

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient. If the code you have differs from our list, do not guess: check with the recipient or the bank.

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from publicly available sources. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use this list as a starting point; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service for money transfers.

Watch out for invoices with changed bank details, especially when they come by email. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Bank or transfer service for China?

What you pay for a payment to China is made up of several parts – not only the fee you see. You pay a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. Check the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites. The difference is your real cost.

Money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares these providers side by side, showing the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.

Sending CNY to China

The currency in China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). If you send another currency, it has to be converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Who converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Often it is cheaper to send CNY straight away via a transfer service with a good rate. Exchange rates move all the time, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

SWIFT transfers to China

To pay into China you usually need the BIC – China is not a SEPA country. Without the BIC, your bank will not process the transfer.

Not every country uses the IBAN; in that case the local account number is used instead. The recipient’s bank often provides instructions for payments from abroad, and it is worth following them to the letter. Before it arrives, a payment may pass through correspondent banks that take a fee.

Incoming international payments in China

When you are waiting for money from abroad on an account in China, send the payer a complete set of details. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Find the bank in the list on this page and compare the code with your own bank details, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Certain sending banks may also want the name and address of your bank, so keep it at hand.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. For business payments, state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

What the letters in a China BIC mean

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and the next two give the location.

In every code from China, letters five and six are the two-letter ISO code of China. A code with a different country code come from another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The long version ends in three characters for a branch, where XXX means the head office. Choose a branch code just if the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.

Tracking a payment to China

An international transfer to China usually takes anywhere from one to several business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out a business day later.

If a transfer seems delayed, the sender should contact their own bank. Specialist transfer services often provide a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.