SWIFT/BIC codes in France: banks starting with F

France: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

On this page you find codes for 2801 institutions in France. A BIC shows the banks handling a transfer which institution should receive an international payment.

Pick the bank below to view its head office code and any branch codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Further down we explain how a code from France is put together, how to send money to France at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

SEPA transfers to France

France is part of the SEPA area, the zone for uniform euro payments. For a regular euro transfer from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN.

You will still need a SWIFT code for payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Instant euro transfers are widely supported across SEPA. As long as the payment stays in euros, the transfer tends to be cheap.

Tracking a payment to France

There is no single answer for payments to France: some land the same day or the next while others need several business days. Public holidays in France or in the sending country can add extra days.

When a payment takes longer than expected, the sender should contact their own bank for a trace; only the sending side can start an official trace. Save the payment confirmation – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Recognising a SWIFT code from France

Every SWIFT/BIC code has eight or eleven characters. Characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six form the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

For banks in France, letters five and six are the two-letter ISO code of France, which makes these codes easy to recognise. Codes with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

The long version adds a branch code. Use a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.

Credit Agricole and its SWIFT codes

Credit Agricole tops the list for France in the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is AGRIFRPP802 – the code most transfers need.

The number of codes says more about how it organises its payments than about its size. Making a payment to Credit Agricole? Go with AGRIFRPP802 unless a specific branch code is requested.

The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Bank accounts in France are typically held in EUR – the Euro. A payment in a foreign currency will be exchanged into EUR before it reaches the account.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Compare what EUR arrives with several providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Rates for EUR change during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.

SWIFT codes in France: banks under :letter

This page only shows the banks in France beginning with :letter. The totals mentioned above always cover all banks in France.

If the bank you need does not appear under :letter, check another letter. Use the full list for France when you do not know the exact name.

What a transfer to France really costs

If you send money to France with a regular bank, the stated fee is rarely all of the cost. Besides the fee, correspondent banks can deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank often uses a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the biggest cost item. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites. The difference is your real cost.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. Before you send money to France, it is worth to compare what arrives via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

What a sender needs to pay you in France

For an international payment into a France account, the sender needs more than the BIC. Give them your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Look up your bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details – your bank statement is the final word. Some sending banks may also want your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.

Expect that the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs.

Check the code before you pay

Ask the recipient to send you the account details directly from their banking app. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or extra fees – compare it with the code in our list.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is compiled from publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Banks merge, change names and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. Before any payment of any size, confirm the code with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is not a bank.

Fraudsters regularly use payment requests carrying changed bank details from what looks like a familiar address. Before paying, verify changed details by phone on a number you know.