SWIFT/BIC codes in France: banks starting with E

Finding a SWIFT code in France

In France we have 4924 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 2801 institutions. Each code identifies a bank or one of its branches, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Look for the recipient’s bank in the list and open its page to see all codes we have and the details a transfer needs. Further down we explain how codes from France are built, how to send money to France without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

How long does a transfer to France take?

There is no single answer for transfers to France: some land within a day while others need several business days. Public holidays in France or in the sending country can add a day or more.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Money transfer services often show a status in their app so you can follow the payment.

What the letters in a France BIC mean

SWIFT/BIC codes follow the same format worldwide: 8 characters plus an optional three-character extension. Characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six are the country code and the next two mark the location.

In every code from France, characters five and six are the two-letter ISO code of France – that is the quickest way to spot one. When the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank somewhere else.

An 11-character code adds a branch code – XXX stands for the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

What a sender needs to pay you in France

For a transfer from abroad in France, the person paying you needs more than the SWIFT code. That means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and sometimes your postal address.

Your bank’s code is in our list. Certain banks may also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank; check the price list of your bank. For business payments, agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

Paying in EUR: what conversion costs you

The currency in France is the Euro (EUR). Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into EUR – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. In many cases you pay less if you send EUR directly through a provider with a good rate. With bigger transfers, even a small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

Euro payments to France: is a BIC needed?

Because France is in the SEPA zone, a euro payment to a bank in France normally only needs an IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC in that case.

You still need a SWIFT code for payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. SEPA transfers usually arrive by the next business day or faster with instant payments. As long as no conversion is involved, a SEPA transfer tends to be inexpensive.

Bank or transfer service for France?

When you send money to France through a regular bank, the fee you see is rarely all of what you pay. On top of a fixed fee, intermediary banks may deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate – the bank builds a margin into its rate. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. On GoldexPay you can compare the amount that arrives in France with different services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

Check the code before you pay

The most reliable place for the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank. A wrong code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees, so compare it with the list on this page.

We gather bank codes from publicly available data and update our list regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. Before a payment that matters, check the code with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and has no link to the banks in this list.

Scammers regularly use payment requests carrying new bank details that look completely genuine. Always verify changed details by phone.

SWIFT codes in France: banks under :letter

This list shows only the banks in France beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The figures for France mentioned here cover all 2801 banks.

Bank not listed? Its official name might start with a different letter, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. Try the full list for France when you do not know the exact name.

The largest SWIFT network in France: Credit Agricole

Credit Agricole leads our list of France banks when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Credit Agricole uses AGRIFRPP802.

Practice differs in how many codes they register – a high count is not a measure of size. Paying someone at Credit Agricole? Use AGRIFRPP802 except when a specific branch code is requested.