HSBC Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of HSBC Bank PLC

Whether a recipient gives you MIDLFRPX or MIDLFRPXXXX, it is the identical identifier for HSBC Bank PLC in France. The code has a single purpose: it makes sure that a cross-border transfer ends up at the right bank. It comes up mostly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

On this page you can read how the code means, when you need it and what else you need for a transfer to or from HSBC Bank PLC. The SWIFT code alone cannot identify a personal account; that is what the IBAN or account number is for.

Which of the 3 codes of HSBC Bank PLC do you need?

Our directory lists 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for HSBC Bank PLC. Besides the head office code MIDLFRPXXXX, there are codes for branches, departments or specific services.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code MIDLFRPXXXX is what you need. Just use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

Unsure which code applies? Check with the recipient, or look at a recent statement from HSBC Bank PLC. Branch codes are more prone to change than MIDLFRPXXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Is MIDLFRPX still correct? How to check

The best place to find the right code is a document from the bank itself like a bank statement or the account page in online banking. Check it against MIDLFRPX on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

With a wrong code, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or end up costing more, and tracing it can take weeks. Do not forget the account number: an error there can be more difficult to undo than a wrong code.

A format check in your banking app only tells you that the IBAN exists. More and more banks check the payee name against the account. For a first payment, many people start with a small test amount and wait for confirmation.

The Euro and what conversion costs you

Most accounts at HSBC Bank PLC are typically held in EUR, the local currency of France. When you pay another currency has to be converted somewhere along the way – by your bank, by HSBC Bank PLC or by a bank in between. Every conversion eats into the amount.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Often you pay less if you send EUR directly through a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert.

The rate for EUR fluctuates throughout the day, so the amount you see is usually only valid for a short time. On larger amounts, a small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Do you need MIDLFRPX for a SEPA transfer?

Because France is in the SEPA zone, a euro payment into HSBC Bank PLC from another SEPA country normally requires just the IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC in that case or fill it in for you.

A SWIFT code like MIDLFRPX still come into play when the currency is not euros, and for transfers from outside SEPA. Some forms also ask for the BIC out of habit; if so, enter MIDLFRPX.

Instant euro transfers are widely supported within SEPA. As long as the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer tends to be inexpensive.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to HSBC Bank PLC

How fast a payment reaches HSBC Bank PLC depends on several factors: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays usually start a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know what the payment is for before releasing it.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Specialist transfer services often show a status online showing how far the payment is.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the person who paid needs to start with their own bank, not the receiving bank. On the receiving end, you can check your statements for a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.

Receiving money from abroad at HSBC Bank PLC

A sender in another country will ask for a few details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. What they need is: your name, IBAN or account number, MIDLFRPXXXX or MIDLFRPX and in many cases your postal address.

The sender’s bank may request the address of your bank, in which case the Paris head office is the usual answer. Check the details before you send them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

An incoming payment will not always land in full. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

Sending money abroad from HSBC Bank PLC

When you transfer money abroad via HSBC Bank PLC, the visible fee is only part of what you pay. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: the bank converts using an exchange rate with a margin built in. Compare their rate against the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many routes, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients receive across services, so you can pick the cheapest route. Using a transfer service does not mean leaving HSBC Bank PLC.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Even so, banks merge or retire codes. Figures such as the number of codes are from our own dataset and may differ from what HSBC Bank PLC publishes.

Treat this page as a reference, not as the last word. We are an independent comparison service and not part of HSBC Bank PLC. Found outdated information? Let us know through the contact page.

8 or 11 characters: MIDLFRPX versus MIDLFRPXXXX

A SWIFT code is made up of fixed blocks: the first four letters stand for the bank, the next two show the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. That gives you MIDLFRPX for HSBC Bank PLC.

Most banks and apps work with either length. If yours asks for eleven characters, enter MIDLFRPXXXX, otherwise MIDLFRPX is fine.

Type the code as one block, in capitals and without separators, exactly as shown here. A single character may route the money to a different institution, so check it twice.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Criminals regularly send fake invoices containing changed bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. That MIDLFRPX is a real code does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Never rely on contact details in the same message that announces the new account. Urgency or secrecy tend to be red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. Acted too fast? Call your bank without delay and ask them to start a recall; also report it to the police.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to refund the difference abroad. Do not act before the money has really arrived.