SWIFT/BIC codes in France: banks starting with I

Finding a SWIFT code in France

This overview covers 2801 banks and other institutions in France. You need such a code mostly for international transfers, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Search for the bank you need below and click through to see the full list of codes. Further down we explain how a code from France is put together, how to send money to France without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

The cheapest way to send money to France

When you transfer money to France through your bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. On top of a fixed fee, intermediary banks may deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a rate below the actual market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Money transfer services often offer a rate near the mid-market rate. Before your next transfer to France, it is worth comparing the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

Paying in EUR: what conversion costs you

The national currency in France is the Euro (EUR). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into EUR on its way to the recipient, and whoever converts it chooses the rate.

Which bank converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. In many cases it is cheaper to send EUR directly through a transfer service with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Exchange rates change during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

Euro payments to France: is a BIC needed?

Since France is in the SEPA zone, a euro transfer to an account in France normally requires just the IBAN. Most banking apps no longer ask for the BIC in that case.

A SWIFT code still come into play for payments in other currencies and for transfers from outside SEPA. SEPA transfers usually arrive by the next business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Provided no conversion is involved, the transfer tends to be cheap.

Which bank in France has the most codes?

Credit Agricole leads the list of France banks when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its main office has AGRIFRPP802; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Many codes usually means separate codes for branches, departments or services. Paying someone at Credit Agricole? Use AGRIFRPP802 unless a specific branch code is requested.

About our data and how to check a code

The best place to find the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. When the code you were given differs from the code listed here, stop and ask: check with the recipient or the bank.

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from publicly available data and update them from time to time. Even so, banks merge or change codes. For a payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site for money transfers, not a bank.

Fraudsters often send payment requests with changed bank details that look completely genuine. Before paying, verify changed details by phone.

Banks in France starting with :letter

This page shows only banks in France whose name starts with :letter. The figures for France on this page apply to all 2801 banks.

Bank not listed? The registered name may begin with another word, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. Use the full list for France if you are not sure the exact name.

How long does a transfer to France take?

How fast money arrives in France depends on a few things: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Public holidays in either country can add extra days.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often show a status online.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in France

For an international payment in France, the sender needs not just the BIC. In practice that means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your postal address.

The code of your bank appears in the list on this page. Certain sending banks may also ask for your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments vary per bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

How SWIFT codes from France are built

Each SWIFT/BIC code consists of eight or eleven characters in a fixed order. Characters one to four stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and the next two give the location.

In every code from France, characters five and six show the ISO country code of France – that is the quickest way to spot one. Codes with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad.

The optional last three characters identify a specific branch; XXX is used for the head office. Choose a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.