SWIFT/BIC codes in China: banks starting with K

Bank SWIFT codes for China

This directory covers 668 banks and other institutions in China, with 2652 SWIFT/BIC codes in total. Each code points to an institution or one of its branches.

Search for the bank you need in the list and click through to see all codes we have and what else a transfer requires. Below the list we explain how a code from China is put together, how to send money there at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

What the letters in a China BIC mean

A BIC is either 8 or 11 characters long. Characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six form the country code and characters seven and eight mark the location.

No matter which bank, every code from China share the same fifth and sixth letters, namely the ISO code of China. When those two letters do not match China, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else.

If the last three are XXX, it means the main office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. In most cases the head office code is fine.

How long does a transfer to China take?

An international transfer to China typically takes anywhere from one to several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday often go out the next business day.

If the money is delayed, the sender should contact the sending bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms.

Receiving money in China from abroad

When you expect money from abroad on an account in China, give the sender everything they need in one go. Share the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address.

The code of your bank appears in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. It helps to add the name and city of your bank, since some payment forms ask for it.

What lands in your account can be lower than the amount sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Why a transfer to China needs a SWIFT code

Because China is outside SEPA, a transfer from abroad normally goes through SWIFT. This means the payment always needs the SWIFT/BIC code of the recipient’s bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Not every country uses the IBAN – where there is none, the local account number is enough. The receiving bank usually has a list of required details for incoming international payments. SWIFT payments sometimes go via correspondent banks and fees can be taken along the way.

Check the code before you pay

Have the recipient send you the account details straight from a recent statement. A wrong code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees – compare it with the code in our list.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on publicly available sources that we update periodically. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. Before any payment of any size, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is not a bank.

Fraudsters regularly send fake invoices with new bank details from what looks like a familiar address. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Banks in China beginning with the letter :letter

This page shows only the banks in China whose name starts with :letter. The figures for China on this page cover all 668 banks and not only this letter.

If a bank is missing here, try another letter. The complete list is available if you cannot find the bank here.

Sending CNY to China

The national currency in China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). A payment in a foreign currency is converted into CNY.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. Often it is cheaper if you send CNY directly through a provider that converts near the mid-market rate. With bigger transfers, even a small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Bank of Communications and its SWIFT codes

Of the 668 banks in China, Bank of Communications has the most codes. The head office of Bank of Communications has COMMCNSHXXX and that code covers most payments.

The number of codes tells you more about how it registers branches and services than about its size. Making a payment to Bank of Communications? Use COMMCNSHXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

What a transfer to China really costs

If you transfer money to China through a regular bank, the fee you see is rarely all of what you pay. On top of a fixed fee, intermediary banks may deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. An easy check: set the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialised transfer providers often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other, showing what actually arrives in China for the same amount sent.