SWIFT/BIC codes in China: banks starting with Y

China: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

This overview lists 668 banks and financial institutions in China and 2652 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. Each code points to an institution or one of its branches, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Every bank is listed with its own page showing the head office code and if there are any, branch codes. The rest of this page covers how the codes work, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing before a payment.

International payments to China and the BIC

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

Not all countries use IBAN numbers – where there is none, the local account number is enough. Check with the recipient which details their bank requires for payments from abroad – many banks give clear instructions for this. SWIFT payments can pass through one or more intermediary banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

Receiving money in China from abroad

If you expect money from abroad in China, send the payer a complete set of details. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page but always compare it with your own bank details. Some banks also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

When does money sent to China arrive?

How fast money arrives in China depends on several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Public holidays in China or in the sending country can add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

When a payment takes longer than expected, the sender should contact their own bank – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking in their app.

The cheapest way to send money to China

When you transfer money to China with your bank, the stated fee is rarely all of the cost. Besides a fixed fee, intermediary banks can take a cut, and when the money is converted the bank often applies a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites. The difference is your real cost.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.

Bank of Communications and its SWIFT codes

Of the 668 banks we list for China, Bank of Communications is listed with the most codes. The head office of Bank of Communications uses COMMCNSHXXX and that code covers most payments.

Banks differ in how many codes they register – a high count is not a measure of size. Paying someone at Bank of Communications? Use COMMCNSHXXX except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

The structure of a China SWIFT/BIC code

A BIC is either 8 or 11 characters long. The first four letters identify the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and characters seven and eight mark the location.

No matter which bank, all China codes have the same country code in positions five and six. Codes with other letters in that position belong to another country, even if the bank name looks familiar.

An 11-character code adds a branch code. Choose a branch code only if the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.

The Chinese Yuan (CNY) and conversion costs

The local currency in China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). When you pay money in a different currency, the amount gets converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Which bank converts the payment matters. Compare what CNY the recipient gets with several services before choosing one. Exchange rates move all the time – some providers let you lock in a rate.

Verifying a SWIFT code from China

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. When the code you were given differs from the code listed here, do not guess.

We gather bank codes from public sources and update our list from time to time. Banks reorganise, change names and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. Before any payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site for money transfers, not a bank.

Be wary of payment requests with changed bank details. Always confirm a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had.

Filter: banks in China with :letter

This list only shows the banks in China beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The totals on this page cover every bank we list and not only this letter.

Cannot find the bank? The registered name may begin with another word, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. The complete list is available when the letter filter does not help.