Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

The short code BBVAFRPP and the 11-character code BBVAFRPPXXX identify the same bank: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria in Paris, France. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to direct payments between countries to the right bank. It comes up mainly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

On this page you can read how the code means, when you need it and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify an individual account holder; that is what the account number or IBAN is for.

What a transfer from Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria abroad really costs

When you send money to another country through Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, 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 applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the largest cost even though it is not listed as a fee. Check their rate with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

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 services. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria: you simply pay the service from your account.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

There is no fixed delivery time for international payments: some land the same day or the next while others need several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or just before weekends and holidays often start the next business day. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments can also add a delay.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact the sending bank for the status and the transaction reference. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status online so you can see how far the money has got.

A missing payment is traced by the sending bank, using the payment confirmation. Request from the sender the payment receipt including the reference.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

The most reliable place for the right code is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. When the code you were given differs from BBVAFRPP or BBVAFRPPXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.

An incorrect BIC can cause delays, a returned payment or additional charges. Do not forget the account number: an error there is more difficult to undo than a wrong code.

An automatic check by your bank merely tells you that the code exists, not that it is the right account. Some banks now compare the name against the account before you confirm; take any warning seriously. Sending a small amount first can be a sensible step for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

A note on our data

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and check them from time to time. Banks reorganise, change names and change codes. Counts and locations come from our directory and may differ from what Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria publishes.

Use this page as a reference, not as the last word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. GoldexPay is a comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria. If you notice a mistake, we welcome a message via the contact page.

What the XXX in BBVAFRPPXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. That gives you BBVAFRPP for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.

The long version adds three more characters for a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, they simply mean the head office, so BBVAFRPPXXX and BBVAFRPP are interchangeable.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Pasting the code beats typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.

Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

The local currency of France is the Euro (EUR). A payment in a foreign currency is exchanged into EUR on its way to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate charge for that conversion; it is built into the rate.

Which bank converts the payment matters. Compare what EUR arrives with different providers.

Rates for EUR change all the time. If you pay regularly, small differences in the rate make a real difference over a year.

SEPA payments and the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria BIC

Since France is in SEPA, a euro transfer to Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from another SEPA country normally requires just an IBAN. Most banking apps no longer ask for the BIC for these payments or fill it in for you.

Outside the euro and from non-SEPA countries, BBVAFRPPXXX or BBVAFRPP is still required. Some banks and apps still show a field for the BIC; if so, enter BBVAFRPP.

SEPA transfers normally land by the next business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Fees for SEPA transfers are generally low.

Head office or branch code at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria?

With 2 codes in 1 cities, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria belongs to the banks that use individual codes for parts of the organisation. The main code remains BBVAFRPPXXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, use BBVAFRPPXXX. If you have been given a branch code, use it as it is rather than swapping it with the head office code.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Branch codes can change when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

A common scam goes like this: an email arrives with a request claiming that a supplier now has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. The fact that BBVAFRPP exists is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is legitimate – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Before paying, verify a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Watch out for urgent requests, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. Already paid? Contact the bank you paid from without delay and have them try to recall the payment and report the fraud.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference abroad. A payment confirmation from the sender is no proof; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Receiving money from abroad at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

For a transfer from abroad at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, the person paying you needs more than the BIC. What they need is: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, BBVAFRPPXXX or BBVAFRPP and, for some countries, your postal address.

The sender’s bank may request the bank address of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria; the head office in Paris is usually fine. A typo in the IBAN is more trouble than it looks.

Expect that the incoming amount is below what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria 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.