Overseas Union Bank Limited SWIFT/BIC code

What OUBKCNB1 means for a payment to Overseas Union Bank Limited

The 8-character code OUBKCNB1 and the 11-character code OUBKCNB1XXX refer to the same bank: Overseas Union Bank Limited. A SWIFT code shows the banks handling a payment exactly which bank should receive the money, much like a postcode for banks. It comes up mainly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

Below you will find the practical side: receiving money at Overseas Union Bank Limited, paying someone in another country and how to verify the code before you confirm a payment. The BIC names a bank or branch, never a specific account.

Tracking a transfer to or from Overseas Union Bank Limited

An international transfer usually needs one to a few business days. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country can add a day or more, since banks do not process on those days. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Money transfer services often provide tracking in their app showing where the money is.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the sender should contact their own bank. On the receiving end, it helps to check your account to see a partial amount.

Choosing between the 3 SWIFT codes of Overseas Union Bank Limited

Our database contains 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for Overseas Union Bank Limited, spread over 3 cities. Besides the head office code OUBKCNB1XXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with OUBKCNB1XXX or its short form OUBKCNB1. Only use a branch code when your contact explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

The safest approach is to copy the code straight from the recipient’s invoice. Branch codes can change over time.

Getting paid from abroad into a Overseas Union Bank Limited account

When you expect money from abroad, send the payer everything they need in one go. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code OUBKCNB1XXX (or OUBKCNB1) and, often, your address.

The sender’s bank may request the bank address of Overseas Union Bank Limited, in which case the Beijing head office is the usual answer. Check the details before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

What lands in your account is often less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank – the price list of Overseas Union Bank Limited tells you what applies. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

How to check OUBKCNB1 before you pay

The best place to find the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank like a bank statement or the account page in online banking. Compare it with OUBKCNB1 on this page.

An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a returned payment or additional charges for investigation. Do not forget the account number: an error there can be more difficult to undo than a wrong BIC.

Most online banking apps check the format of an IBAN and sometimes look up the BIC automatically – that confirms the format, not the owner. More and more banks compare the payee name against the account – do not ignore a mismatch warning. For a first payment, some people start with a small amount first and wait for confirmation.

About this information

The directory on GoldexPay is based on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Banks reorganise, close branches and retire codes. The number of codes on this page reflect our own data.

Before any payment of any size, confirm the BIC with Overseas Union Bank Limited or the recipient. GoldexPay has no connection to Overseas Union Bank Limited, we only compare transfer services. Found outdated information? Tell us via our contact form so we can correct it.

8 or 11 characters: OUBKCNB1 versus OUBKCNB1XXX

A BIC is made up of fixed blocks: the first four letters stand for the bank, the next two show the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. That gives you OUBKCNB1 for Overseas Union Bank Limited.

XXX at the end of OUBKCNB1XXX does not stand for a missing value or an error: it indicates the main office of Overseas Union Bank Limited. Some forms insist on 11 characters, in which case you simply enter XXX behind OUBKCNB1.

Do not add spaces or dashes when you type OUBKCNB1; the code is always written in one block. Copying the code is safer than retyping it: a typo can point to another bank.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Criminals regularly use fake invoices containing changed bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. That OUBKCNB1 is a real code does not mean that a request mentioning it is legitimate; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Do not rely on a phone number in the same message that announces the change. Urgency or secrecy tend to be red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. When money was sent to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference abroad. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.

What a transfer from Overseas Union Bank Limited abroad really costs

If you send money abroad from Overseas Union Bank Limited, the visible fee is only part of the cost. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies are converted, the bank often uses a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate: the bank converts using an exchange rate that includes a margin. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients receive across providers, so you can pick the cheapest route. You can still keep your account at Overseas Union Bank Limited as the source of the money, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

The Chinese Yuan and what conversion costs you

The currency in China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). If you send money in a different currency it gets converted at some point. You rarely see a separate line for that conversion.

Who does the conversion affects the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Transferring the money already in CNY often avoids a second conversion at the receiving end, provided the rate you get is fair.

The rate for CNY changes constantly. With bigger transfers, even small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.