Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD SWIFT/BIC code

What ABKLCY2N means for a payment to Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD

ABKLCY2N and ABKLCY2NXXX are two spellings of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD in Nicosia (Lefkosia). A BIC does one job: it makes sure that an international payment ends up at the right bank. It comes up mainly for payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

Below we go through the practical questions: receiving money at Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD, sending money abroad and how to check a SWIFT code before you hit send. The SWIFT code on its own cannot identify an individual account holder; for that you need the IBAN or account number is for.

Which of the 4 codes of Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD do you need?

Our directory lists 4 SWIFT/BIC codes for Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD, spread over 4 locations. Next to the head office code ABKLCY2NXXX, you will find codes for branches, departments or specific services.

Usually there is no need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to ABKLCY2NXXX reach Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD correctly. If you have been given a specific code, use it as it is rather than replacing it for the head office code.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient which code their bank gave them. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Getting paid from abroad into a Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD account

A sender in another country needs several details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. In practice that means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code ABKLCY2NXXX (or ABKLCY2N) and sometimes your postal address.

It helps to include the bank name and its city too, since some forms ask for it. Double-check each detail before you share them.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

The Euro and what conversion costs you

The currency in Cyprus is the Euro (EUR). A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into EUR – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Every conversion costs something, even when no fee is shown.

Which bank converts the payment matters. In many cases you pay less to send EUR directly through a provider with a good rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert.

Rates for EUR move all the time. With bigger transfers, even small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

What the XXX in ABKLCY2NXXX means

A SWIFT code is made up of fixed blocks: the first four letters stand for the bank, the next two show the country and the two after that mark the location. In this case, the 8-character core is ABKLCY2N.

The 11-character version has three more characters that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office, which is why ABKLCY2NXXX and ABKLCY2N lead to the same place.

Enter the code as one block, in capitals and without spaces. A wrong character can send a payment to another bank, so check it twice.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD

Have the recipient copy the bank details straight from a recent statement. When the code you were given does not match ABKLCY2N or ABKLCY2NXXX, do not guess.

If the code is wrong, the payment might get stuck, bounce back or cost extra. Remember the account number: a mistake there is harder to correct than a wrong BIC.

Most online banking apps check the structure of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a name check on the recipient gives extra certainty. Sending a small amount first can be a sensible step for a large first payment.

When will the money arrive at Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD?

A SWIFT payment usually needs anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Payments made after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday usually start a business day later. Extra checks by one of the banks can also cause some delay, even when all details are correct.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every payment gets a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status online so you can see where the payment has got.

A delayed transfer has to be traced by the sending bank. On the receiving end, you can check your account for a partial amount because fees can reduce the amount.

A note on our data

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is compiled from publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. The figures on this page are based on our own data.

Use this page as a starting point, not as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay has no connection to Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD; we are a comparison site for money transfers. If you notice a mistake, we welcome a short note.

What a transfer from Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD abroad really costs

What you pay for a payment abroad has several parts. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

Many banks rarely list the margin on the rate separately. A simple test: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives across providers. You can still use your account at Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD as the source of the money.

Euro transfers to Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD: is a BIC needed?

Inside SEPA, euro transfers to Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD follow the same rules. The BIC field is often optional for those payments.

You will still need ABKLCY2NXXX when sending payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. A few forms still show a field for the BIC; in that case, enter ABKLCY2N or ABKLCY2NXXX.

SEPA transfers normally land within one business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Charges on SEPA transfers tend to be low as long as everything stays in euros.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

One of the most common tricks works like this: an email arrives with a message claiming that a contact now has new bank details and that the next payment should go there. That ABKLCY2N is a real code does not mean that the account is genuine.

Before paying, verify a change of bank details through a phone call. Urgency or secrecy tend to be red flags. Already paid? Contact the bank you paid from straight away and ask them to start a recall and report the fraud.

Fraud can also work the other way. Someone claims to have sent too much and wants you to refund the extra. Wait until the money has really arrived – ask Alpha Bank Cyprus LTD if something looks wrong.