Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch SWIFT/BIC code

WUIGFRP1 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch

Whether you are given WUIGFRP1 or WUIGFRP1XXX, it is the same address for Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch in France. A SWIFT code shows the sending bank which institution should receive the money. In daily life you usually see the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and on the account details of Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch customers.

Further down we go through the practical questions: receiving money at Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch, paying someone in another country and how to verify the code before you confirm a payment. The SWIFT code alone cannot identify a personal account; for that you need the IBAN or account number .

What a transfer from Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch abroad really costs

An international bank payment costs rather more than the listed fee. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may take a cut, and if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a rate below the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the biggest cost, and it is easy to miss. Check their rate against the mid-market rate.

Money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate. Before your next transfer, take a minute comparing the total cost via GoldexPay rather than accepting the bank’s rate by default. You can always keep your account at Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch as the source of the money.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch

Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch has 2 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 2 cities. Only one is the head office code; the others identify branches or departments.

In most cases there is no need to look up a branch: payments sent to WUIGFRP1XXX reach Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch correctly. If you have been given a specific code, use it as it is rather than replacing it for the head office code.

When in doubt, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Branch codes can change over time.

Getting paid from abroad into a Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch account

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details about your account. The basics are: your name, IBAN or account number, WUIGFRP1XXX or WUIGFRP1 and, for some countries, your home address.

Some banks want the name and address of Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch, so keep it at hand. Check every detail before you share them.

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, a markup on the rate applies. On invoices, you can agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

Why Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch has an 8- and an 11-character code

Every SWIFT/BIC code starts with the same eight core characters: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. That gives you WUIGFRP1, the short form of the code.

The 11-character version has a three-character extension for a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, they simply mean the head office, which is why WUIGFRP1XXX and WUIGFRP1 lead to the same place.

Type the code as one block, in capitals and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Pasting the code beats typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.

How long does an international transfer to Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch take?

An international transfer usually takes one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Extra checks by one of the banks may also cause a delay, regardless of the details.

If a transfer seems delayed, ask the sending bank for the tracking status; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status in their app showing how far the payment has got.

A delayed transfer is investigated from the sending side, using the payment confirmation. On the receiving end, you can look at your account to see a slightly lower amount.

The Euro and what conversion costs you

France pays in the Euro, code EUR. A payment in a foreign currency is exchanged into EUR before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Every conversion costs something – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Which bank converts the payment makes a difference: every bank has its own margin. Compare what EUR the recipient gets with several services before choosing one.

Exchange rates move during the day. For recurring payments, small differences in the rate make a real difference over a year.

Euro transfers to Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch: is a BIC needed?

France is part of the SEPA area. For a regular euro transfer from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN; many banks no longer ask for the BIC.

You still need WUIGFRP1XXX when sending non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. A few forms also show a field for the BIC out of habit; if so, enter WUIGFRP1 or WUIGFRP1XXX.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land within one business day. Charges on SEPA transfers tend to be low as long as everything stays in euros.

Is WUIGFRP1 still correct? How to check

Ask the recipient to copy their account details directly from their online banking. Compare that code against WUIGFRP1 on this page and ask if anything does not match.

If the code is wrong, the transfer might get stuck, be returned or end up costing more. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there is harder to undo than a wrong code.

An automatic check by your bank only tells you that the code is valid, not that it is the right account. If your bank offers it, a payee name check on the recipient adds extra certainty. Sending a small amount first can be a sensible step for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Scammers often use fake invoices with new bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account.

Do not rely on a phone number in the same message that announces the change. Be suspicious of time pressure, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Contact your bank straight away and have them start a recall; also report it to the police.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much followed by a request to send back the difference to another account. A payment confirmation from the sender is no proof; only your own account shows what has arrived.

About this information

The details on this page come from publicly available data. Banks reorganise, change names and retire codes, and a directory never catches every change immediately. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory.

Use our data as a reference, rather than as the last word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay has no connection to Western Union International Bank GMBH-French Branch; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Spotted outdated information? Let us know through the contact page.