SWIFT/BIC codes in China: banks starting with Q

Bank SWIFT codes for China

In China our database holds 2652 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 668 banks. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a transfer which institution is meant to get the money.

Choose a bank from the list to see the head office code and its other codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Further down we explain how codes from China are built, how to send money there without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

What a sender needs to pay you in China

If you are waiting for a payment from another country on an account in China, send the payer a complete set of details. In practice that means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your address.

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 your bank’s address, so keep it at hand.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. For business payments, agree how the fees are split.

Tracking a payment to China

An international transfer to China usually takes anywhere from one to several business days. Bank holidays in either country can add a day or more to the journey.

If a transfer is delayed, the sender should contact the sending bank for a trace; only the sending side can start an official trace. Money transfer services often provide a status online, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Recognising a SWIFT code from China

Each SWIFT/BIC code consists of 8 or 11 characters, always in the same order. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and the next two give the location.

Whatever the bank, all China codes have the same fifth and sixth letters. Codes with a different country code belong to another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The long version adds a branch code – XXX stands for the head office. Choose a branch code only when the recipient’s bank asks for it.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.

We gather bank codes using public sources and update them from time to time. Institutions reorganise, change names and change codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. For a payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. We are a comparison service for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Watch out for payment requests containing changed bank details. Before paying, confirm a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had.

Banks in China starting with :letter

Here you see a selection: only institutions in China whose name begins with :letter. The figures for China mentioned here cover all 668 banks, not just the ones under :letter.

Many institutions are listed under their legal name, which may start with words like Bank or Banco, so the letter can differ from what you expect. The complete list is available when you cannot find the bank here.

Most SWIFT codes in China: Bank of Communications

Bank of Communications leads our list of China banks in the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is COMMCNSHXXX – the code most transfers need.

Banks differ in whether they register branch codes. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code COMMCNSHXXX works for a payment to Bank of Communications.

The Chinese Yuan (CNY) and conversion costs

The currency of China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). If you send money in a different currency, it has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Often you pay less if you send CNY directly through a provider with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Why a transfer to China needs a SWIFT code

To pay into China you will usually need a SWIFT/BIC code – China is not a SEPA country. Without the BIC, your bank cannot process the transfer at all.

Depending on the country, the account is identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. The recipient’s bank often provides instructions for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. International transfers sometimes go via one or more intermediary banks.

Bank or transfer service for China?

If you send money to China with a regular bank, the fee you see is rarely all of what you pay. Besides a fixed fee, intermediary banks may take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest part of the cost because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay compares transfer services next to each other, showing what actually arrives in China before you commit.