Qatar National Bank SWIFT/BIC code

QNBAFRPP – the SWIFT/BIC code of Qatar National Bank

The 8-character code QNBAFRPP and the full code QNBAFRPPXXX identify one and the same institution: Qatar National Bank in Paris, France. A BIC does one job: it makes sure that money from abroad reaches the right bank. In daily life you usually see it on international invoices, in your banking app and in the bank details that Qatar National Bank provides.

On this page we explain how the code is put together, when it matters and what else a transfer to or from Qatar National Bank requires. The SWIFT code alone cannot identify an individual account holder; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

Do you need QNBAFRPP for a SEPA transfer?

France is part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). When you send euros from another SEPA country, the IBAN is usually enough and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

The BIC does come into play for payments in other currencies and when the money comes from outside SEPA. If your banking app asks for the BIC anyway, adding QNBAFRPP does no harm.

Instant payments in euros are increasingly supported within SEPA. Provided no currency is converted, the transfer is inexpensive; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Qatar National Bank

Qatar National Bank uses 2 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 cities. Only one is the head office code; the rest belong to branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code QNBAFRPPXXX is the right choice. Just use a branch code when the recipient explicitly asks for it, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

Unsure which code to use? Ask the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Qatar National Bank. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than QNBAFRPPXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Paying into Qatar National Bank in EUR

Accounts at Qatar National Bank are usually held in EUR, the local currency of France. Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into EUR before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Every conversion costs the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Which bank converts the money matters, because each party uses its own rate. Transferring the money directly in EUR usually prevents a second conversion at the receiving end.

The EUR rate fluctuates throughout the day. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate make a real difference over a year.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Be wary if a contact unexpectedly wants you to send money to another account. That QNBAFRPP is a real code does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Check changed payment details through a separate channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, not by replying to the message. Watch out for time pressure, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. If a payment was sent to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

People receiving money are targeted too: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference abroad. Do not act before the money has really arrived and check with Qatar National Bank if anything seems off.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Qatar National Bank

How quickly a transfer reaches Qatar National Bank is determined by a few things: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Payments made late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually start a business day later. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments can also add a delay, even when all details are correct.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact the sending bank about the tracking status. Save the payment confirmation – you will need it for any trace request.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the sender needs to start with the bank that sent it rather than Qatar National Bank. As a recipient, you can look at your account for a partial amount.

How up to date is this code?

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and check our list from time to time. It can happen that information here is out of date, for example after a merger. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset.

Before any payment that matters, confirm the BIC with Qatar National Bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Qatar National Bank. If you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a short note via the contact page.

Is QNBAFRPP still correct? How to check

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient. Compare it with QNBAFRPP here and ask if anything does not match.

With a wrong code, the transfer might be delayed, be returned or end up costing more – sometimes after weeks of searching. A mistake in the account number can be more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else.

Many banking apps check the structure of an IBAN and some suggest the matching BIC – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a name check on the recipient adds extra certainty. Sending a small amount first is worth it for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

International transfers from Qatar National Bank: the real cost

An international bank payment costs more than the listed fee. Besides the transfer fee, banks in between may take a cut, and if currencies are converted, the bank often uses a rate below the actual market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest cost because it is hidden in the rate. Compare their rate against the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before your next transfer, it is worth to compare what arrives via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. You can still keep your account at Qatar National Bank as the source of the money; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

QNBAFRPP or QNBAFRPPXXX – which one to use?

The layout of every SWIFT code never changes: a bank code of four letters, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. That gives you QNBAFRPP, the short form of the code.

XXX at the end of QNBAFRPPXXX is not a missing value or a mistake: it stands for the main office of Qatar National Bank. Some forms insist on 11 characters, in which case you can add XXX after QNBAFRPP.

Leave out spaces, dots when you type QNBAFRPP. Pasting the code beats typing it by hand.

Receiving money from abroad at Qatar National Bank

To receive an international payment at Qatar National Bank, the sender has to have more than the BIC. What they need is: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, QNBAFRPPXXX and, for some countries, your home address.

Certain sending banks also ask for the address of Qatar National Bank, so keep it at hand. A mistake in your account number can be harder to fix than you might think, so copy the details from your online banking.

An incoming payment does not always land for the full amount. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.