SWIFT/BIC codes in France: banks starting with Y

Finding a SWIFT code in France

Our directory lists 2801 banks and financial institutions in France, with 4924 SWIFT/BIC codes in total. Each code identifies a bank or one of its branches.

Choose a bank below to see the head office code and any branch codes along with tips for payments to and from that bank. Further down you can read how codes from France are built, how to send money there at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

What a transfer to France really costs

A bank transfer to France can cost more than you think. Besides the fee, intermediary banks may deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the largest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service is cheaper than a bank. GoldexPay compares transfer services next to each other, showing what actually arrives in France for the same amount sent.

SEPA transfers to France

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

You still need the BIC for non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day. Fees are generally low as long as no currency is converted.

How long does a transfer to France take?

There is no single answer for payments to France: some arrive the same day or the next while others need several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Every payment carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking online, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

The local currency of France is the Euro (EUR). If you send money in a different currency, the amount has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Who does the conversion has an effect on how much arrives. Compare what EUR arrives via several services; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Exchange rates move all the time – some providers let you lock in a rate.

Most SWIFT codes in France: Credit Agricole

Credit Agricole tops our list of France banks in SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Credit Agricole uses AGRIFRPP802; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Many codes usually means that the bank registers branches and departments separately. Making a payment to Credit Agricole? Go with AGRIFRPP802 unless a specific branch code is requested.

Check the code before you pay

Ask the recipient to copy the account details straight from their online banking. If the code you have differs from our list, do not guess.

We collect bank codes using publicly available data and update our list regularly. Banks reorganise, change names and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Before a payment of any size, confirm the BIC with the recipient. GoldexPay is not a bank and has no link to the banks in this list.

Fraudsters regularly send payment requests carrying changed bank details from what looks like a familiar address. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Filter: banks in France with :letter

This filter narrows the list down to banks from France that begin with :letter. The totals mentioned here apply to all 2801 banks.

Many institutions appear under their official name, so the letter can differ from what you expect. The complete list remains one click away if the letter filter does not help.

Receiving money in France from abroad

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for a few details about your account. That means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your postal address.

Find the bank in the list on this page – your bank statement is the final word. Some banks may also ask for your bank’s address.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank. On invoices, agree how the fees are split, so nobody is left short.

How SWIFT codes from France are built

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

In every code from France, letters five and six are the ISO country code of France. A code with a different country code belong to another country.

If the last three are XXX, it means the main office. Choose a branch code only if the recipient explicitly gives you one – otherwise stick with the head office.