SWIFT/BIC codes in French Polynesia

French Polynesia: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

Here you will find codes for 11 institutions in French Polynesia, 11 codes in all. Every code points to an institution or a specific branch or department.

Pick the bank from the list to see the head office code and any branch codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Further down you can read how a code from French Polynesia is put together, how to send money to French Polynesia at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

The cheapest way to send money to French Polynesia

A bank transfer to French Polynesia often costs rather more than the fee suggests. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee. An easy check: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the rate. GoldexPay compares transfer services next to each other so you can see what actually arrives in French Polynesia before you commit.

Tracking a payment to French Polynesia

There is no fixed answer for transfers to French Polynesia: many land within a day while others need several business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday usually start the next business day.

If the money is delayed, the sender should contact their own bank and ask for the status or the UETR – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Money transfer services usually provide a status online.

Most SWIFT codes in French Polynesia: Banque de Polynesie

Of the 11 banks we list for French Polynesia, Banque de Polynesie is listed with the largest number of codes. The head office uses BPOLPFTPXXX – the code most transfers need.

How many codes a bank has tells you something about how it organises its payments than about its size. If not a branch code is given, BPOLPFTPXXX is fine for a payment to Banque de Polynesie.

Why a transfer to French Polynesia needs a SWIFT code

For French Polynesia you will almost always need the BIC. Without it, most banks cannot process the transfer at all.

In some countries, the account is identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Ask the recipient which details their bank requires for incoming international payments – many banks give clear instructions for this. Before it arrives, a transfer may go through correspondent banks that charge for their part.

What a sender needs to pay you in French Polynesia

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. That means: your name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and sometimes your postal address.

Look up your bank in the list on this page and compare the code with your own bank details. It helps to add your bank’s name and city as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

About our data and how to check a code

The safest source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details. An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or additional charges.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is compiled from public sources. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Before any payment of any size, confirm the code with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site, not a bank.

Watch out for invoices with a new account. Before paying, verify changed details through a separate channel on a number you know.

How SWIFT codes from French Polynesia are built

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

You can recognise a bank code from French Polynesia from the fifth and sixth characters. If those two letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else.

The long version adds a branch code, where XXX means the head office. Use a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one – otherwise stick with the head office.