Bancolombia S.A. SWIFT/BIC code

COLOCOBM – the SWIFT/BIC code of Bancolombia S.A.

COLOCOBM and COLOCOBMXXX are two ways of writing the same bank identifier, and both lead to Bancolombia S.A. in Medellin. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to direct international transfers to the correct bank. In daily life you mostly come across the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and on the account details of Bancolombia S.A. customers.

On this page you can read how the code is put together, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from Bancolombia S.A. requires. Remember that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number takes care of that.

Bancolombia S.A.: head office code versus branch codes

Bancolombia S.A. uses 7 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 6 locations. Only one is the head office code, COLOCOBMXXX; the rest belong to branches or departments.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code COLOCOBMXXX works fine. If you have been given a branch code, use it as it is rather than replacing it with the head office code.

The safest approach is to copy the code directly from the account holder’s invoice. Codes can change when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

8 or 11 characters: COLOCOBM versus COLOCOBMXXX

A BIC is made up of a few fixed parts: characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six show the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. For Bancolombia S.A., that core is COLOCOBM.

Most payment forms work with both lengths. If a form asks for eleven characters, use COLOCOBMXXX; if it wants eight, use COLOCOBM.

Type the code in one piece, in capitals and without spaces. Look out for the letter O and the digit 0 or the letter I and the digit 1; they are easy to mix up.

Watch out for payment fraud

One of the most common tricks goes like this: you receive a message saying that a supplier now has new bank details. The fact that COLOCOBM exists is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is legitimate.

Verify new bank details through a separate channel, such as a phone number you already know, never via the email that asked for the change. Pressure or secrecy are warning signs – a real supplier can wait a day. If money was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away.

Fraud can also target the receiver. Someone claims to have sent more than agreed and asks you to return the extra via a different route. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof.

How up to date is this code?

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and update them regularly. It is possible that information on this page is out of date, for example after a merger. The number of codes we show are based on our own data and not on information from Bancolombia S.A. itself.

Use this page as a reference, rather than as the last word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Bancolombia S.A.. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message via the contact page.

Getting paid from abroad into a Bancolombia S.A. account

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. The basics are: your name, account number or IBAN, COLOCOBMXXX and often your home address.

The sender’s bank may request the address of your bank. Check each detail before you send them.

Money from abroad does not always arrive in full. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Bancolombia S.A.

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a bank statement or their online banking. Compare it with COLOCOBM on this page.

Mistakes in the BIC are annoying rather than disastrous. Do not forget the account number: a mistake there can be harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

A validity check by your bank only tells you that the IBAN exists. Some banks now compare the payee name with the account – do not ignore a mismatch warning. For a first payment, many people start with a small amount first and wait for confirmation.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Bancolombia S.A.

A SWIFT payment usually needs one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Payments made late in the day or on weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later. Extra checks by one of the banks can also cause a delay, regardless of the details.

If the money is delayed, ask your bank about the status and the transaction reference so they can trace it along the chain. Money transfer services often show a status in their app so you can see where the payment is.

A delayed transfer is traced from the sending side, using the payment confirmation. On the receiving end, you can check your statements for a partial amount because fees can reduce the amount.

What a transfer from Bancolombia S.A. abroad really costs

The price of a payment abroad has more than one component, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between can deduct a fee, and if the money changes currency, the bank often applies a rate below the actual market rate.

Banks rarely show the margin on the rate as a cost. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Specialist money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay lists transfer providers next to each other so you can see the amount the recipient gets. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Bancolombia S.A..