SWIFT/BIC codes in France: banks starting with S
2,801 banks and financial institutions in France with 4,924 SWIFT/BIC codes in total.
The way a SWIFT/BIC code from France is structured
A SWIFT/BIC code has 8 or 11 characters. Each part has a fixed meaning:
- SIRC Bank code
- 4 letters that identify the bank.
- FR Country code
- 2 letters for the country (ISO 3166).
- 21 Location code
- 2 characters for the city or region of the head office.
- XXX Branch code
- 3 characters for a specific branch. XXX means the head office.
France: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes
This overview covers 2801 banks and financial institutions in France. You need a SWIFT/BIC code mainly for international transfers, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.
Search for the recipient’s bank below and open its page for the full list of codes and the details a transfer needs. The sections below explain the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing.
What a transfer to France really costs
A bank transfer to France often costs more than the fee suggests. Besides the fee, correspondent banks may take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.
That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.
For many currency pairs, a specialist provider is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in France across services, so you can pick the cheapest route.
The largest SWIFT network in France: Credit Agricole
Credit Agricole leads our list of France banks in SWIFT/BIC codes. Its main office has AGRIFRPP802 and that code covers most payments.
A large number of codes usually means separate codes for branches, departments or services. Paying someone at Credit Agricole? Use AGRIFRPP802 except when the recipient gives you a branch code.
How reliable is this list?
Have the recipient copy the account details directly from a recent statement. When the code you were given does not match the code listed here, do not guess: check with the recipient or the bank.
This list is based on publicly available sources that we update periodically. Even so, banks merge or change codes. For a payment of any size, check the BIC with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.
Fraudsters regularly send fake invoices with changed bank details. Always verify a change of bank details by phone on a number you know.
Filter: banks in France with :letter
This page only shows the banks in France beginning with :letter. The counts in the introduction still cover the whole country, not just this letter.
Bank not listed? Its official name may start with a different letter – think of the full legal name instead of the brand. Use the full list for France when you do not know how the name is spelled.
France and the Euro
Most accounts in France are typically held in EUR, the local currency. A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into EUR before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate.
Who converts the payment matters: every bank has its own margin. Compare what EUR arrives with different services before choosing one. Exchange rates change all the time, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.
Recognising a SWIFT code from France
Bank identifier codes follow the same format worldwide: eight characters, sometimes followed by three more. It starts with a four-letter bank code, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.
No matter which bank, all France codes share the same country code in positions five and six, namely the ISO code of France. Codes with other letters in that position belong to another country, even if the bank name looks familiar.
An 11-character code ends in three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. For most transfers the head office code is fine unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.
Tracking a payment to France
A SWIFT payment to France usually takes one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Public holidays in either country add extra days to the journey.
When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact their own bank for a trace. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms – you will need it if something goes wrong.
Incoming international payments in France
Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.
The code of your bank appears in the list on this page, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. It helps to add the name and city of your bank as well, since some payment forms ask for it.
Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank. On invoices, agree how the fees are split, so nobody is left short.
SEPA transfers to France
Because France is part of the SEPA zone, a euro transfer to an account in France usually only needs an IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC for these payments.
A SWIFT code does come into play for payments in other currencies and when the money comes from outside SEPA. Instant euro transfers are increasingly supported across SEPA. Provided the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer is usually cheap.
Frequently asked questions
How many banks in France have a SWIFT/BIC code?
We list 2,801 banks and financial institutions in France with 4,924 SWIFT/BIC codes, including branches and departments.
Do I need a SWIFT code to send money to France?
Not for euro payments: France belongs to SEPA, so the IBAN suffices. For other currencies the SWIFT/BIC code is required.
How long does a transfer to France take?
Euro transfers normally arrive the next business day, instant payments within seconds. Other currencies take 1–3 business days.
What is the cheapest way to send money to France?
Banks often hide a margin in the exchange rate. Check the amount received in Euro with specialist providers to save money.
How do I recognise a SWIFT/BIC code from France?
The fifth and sixth characters of each SWIFT/BIC code show the country. Codes from France contain FR.
Source: listbase-org SWIFT/BIC database (MIT licence), updated monthly. Always verify the code with the recipient or their bank.