Icici Bank UK PLC SWIFT/BIC code

Icici Bank UK PLC SWIFT code: ICICDEFF

ICICDEFF and ICICDEFFXXX are the short and the long form of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Icici Bank UK PLC in Eschborn. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain which institution should receive the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. In practice you mostly come across the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and in the bank details that Icici Bank UK PLC provides.

On this page you can read what the code is put together, when you need it and what else a transfer to or from Icici Bank UK PLC requires. The SWIFT code alone does not identify an individual account holder; for that you need the IBAN or account number is for.

International transfers from Icici Bank UK PLC: the real cost

An international bank payment can cost rather more than the fee suggests. Besides the transfer fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can take a cut, and when currencies are converted the bank often applies a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost. An easy check: put the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. Next time you send money, it is worth to compare what arrives via GoldexPay rather than accepting the bank’s rate by default. You can always use your account at Icici Bank UK PLC as the source of the money; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Why Icici Bank UK PLC has an 8- and an 11-character code

The structure of every SWIFT code is always the same: a bank code of four letters, two for the country and two for the location, plus an optional branch code. Together, these eight characters form ICICDEFF, the code most people search for.

The 11-character version adds three more characters that identify a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, the code points to the head office, which is why ICICDEFFXXX and ICICDEFF lead to the same place.

Enter the code in one piece, in capitals and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Pasting the code is safer than typing it by hand, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Be wary when someone suddenly wants you to pay into a different account. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account – scammers simply use real codes.

Always confirm changed bank details through a phone call on a number you know, not one from the message. Watch out for time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Call the bank you paid from without delay and ask them to start a recall; also report it to the police.

Recipients are targeted too: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to refund the difference. Wait until the money is actually in your account – ask Icici Bank UK PLC if something looks wrong.

Receiving money from abroad at Icici Bank UK PLC

A sender in another country needs several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. In practice that means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC ICICDEFFXXX (or ICICDEFF) and usually your postal address.

Some banks also ask for the bank’s address. Double-check each detail before you share them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

What lands in your account is often less than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Icici Bank UK PLC

Have the recipient copy the bank details straight from their banking app. Check that code with ICICDEFF here.

Mistakes in the SWIFT code are annoying more than fatal. Do not forget the account number: a mistake there is more difficult to correct than a wrong code.

An automatic check by your bank only confirms that the IBAN exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. Some banks now compare the payee name against the account before you confirm. Sending a small amount first is worth it for large sums.

How up to date is this code?

We collect bank codes from public sources and check our list regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes and our data may lag behind. Figures such as the number of codes are from our own dataset and may differ from what Icici Bank UK PLC publishes.

For a payment that matters, always check the BIC with Icici Bank UK PLC or with the recipient. We are a comparison site for money transfers and not part of Icici Bank UK PLC. If you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a message via the contact page.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Icici Bank UK PLC

With 2 codes in 2 cities, Icici Bank UK PLC is one of the banks that register separate codes for branches. The head office code remains ICICDEFFXXX.

Usually you do not need to look up a branch: payments sent to ICICDEFFXXX reach Icici Bank UK PLC without problems. Just use a branch code when the account holder explicitly asks for it.

Unsure which code applies? Ask the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Icici Bank UK PLC. Codes for branches are more prone to change than ICICDEFFXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

How long does an international transfer to Icici Bank UK PLC take?

How fast a payment arrives at Icici Bank UK PLC depends on several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out a business day later. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments may also add a delay, even when all details are correct.

If the money seems delayed, ask the sending bank about the tracking status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Money transfer services often provide a status online so you can see where the money is.

Only the sending bank is able to request a trace; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. As a recipient, it helps to check your account for a slightly lower amount, since fees may have been deducted.

Euro transfers to Icici Bank UK PLC: is a BIC needed?

Germany belongs to the SEPA area, the zone for standardised euro payments. When you send euros from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN; many banks no longer ask for the BIC.

You will still need ICICDEFFXXX when sending non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. If a payment form asks for the BIC regardless, entering ICICDEFF is fine.

Instant euro transfers have become widely available within SEPA; check with Icici Bank UK PLC whether it applies to your account. As long as no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer is inexpensive; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

The Euro and what conversion costs you

Germany uses the Euro, with the currency code EUR. Money sent in a different currency is converted into EUR on its way to Icici Bank UK PLC, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. Every conversion eats into something, even when no fee is shown.

Who converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Compare how much EUR arrives with different services.

Rates for EUR move all the time. On larger amounts, a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.