Bank of Greece SWIFT/BIC code

What BNGRGRAA means for a payment to Bank of Greece

Whether a recipient gives you BNGRGRAA or BNGRGRAAXXX, you are looking at the identical identifier for Bank of Greece in Greece. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment exactly which bank should receive the money, much like a postcode for banks. It comes up mostly when dealing with payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

Further down we go through the practical questions: money coming in from abroad, sending money abroad and how to check the code before you hit send. The BIC names an institution, never a single account; the IBAN or account number does that.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes here are taken from public sources which we refresh regularly. It is possible that a code on this page is out of date. The figures on this page reflect what is in our directory.

Use our data as a reference, not as the last word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and not affiliated with Bank of Greece. Found outdated information? Let us know via our contact form so we can correct it.

Before you send: check the Bank of Greece code

The best place to find the correct BIC is paperwork issued by the bank. If the code you have does not match BNGRGRAA or BNGRGRAAXXX, do not guess.

With a wrong code, the transfer might get stuck, be returned or cost extra, and tracing it can take weeks. A mistake in the account number is more serious because it can reach the wrong person, so check that just as carefully.

An automatic check by your bank merely confirms that the IBAN exists. Some banks now compare the name with the account; take any warning seriously. A small test payment is worth it for large sums.

8 or 11 characters: BNGRGRAA versus BNGRGRAAXXX

Every SWIFT/BIC code has the same eight core characters: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. For Bank of Greece, the 8-character core is BNGRGRAA.

Most banks and apps accept either length. If yours asks for eleven characters, enter BNGRGRAAXXX.

Do not add spaces or dashes when you enter BNGRGRAA; the code is always written in one block. Copying the code beats retyping it: a typo can point to another bank.

Euro transfers to Bank of Greece: is a BIC needed?

Greece is part of the SEPA area, the zone for standardised euro payments. When you send euros from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

A SWIFT code like BNGRGRAA still matter when the currency is not euros and when the money comes from outside SEPA. A few forms still ask for the BIC; if so, fill in BNGRGRAA or BNGRGRAAXXX.

Instant payments in euros are increasingly supported within SEPA – whether Bank of Greece offers them for your account is worth checking. Fees for SEPA transfers tend to be low.

Incoming international payments to Bank of Greece

To receive a transfer from abroad into your account at Bank of Greece, the sender has to have more than the BIC. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the BIC BNGRGRAAXXX (or BNGRGRAA) and, often, your postal address.

Their bank may request the address of your bank; the head office in Athens is usually fine. A typo in your account number can be harder to fix than it looks, so copy the details from your online banking.

Money from abroad will not always land in full. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

International transfers from Bank of Greece: the real cost

What you pay for a payment abroad is made up of several parts. Besides the transfer fee, banks in between may take a cut, and if currencies are converted, the bank often uses a rate below the real market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee: many banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. A simple test: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialised transfer providers often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate. On GoldexPay we compare what recipients receive across providers. Using a transfer service does not mean leaving Bank of Greece: you simply pay the service from your account.

Choosing between the 38 SWIFT codes of Bank of Greece

Bank of Greece uses 38 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 2 locations. One of them is the head office code, BNGRGRAAXXX; the others belong to branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

For the vast majority of incoming transfers, the head office code BNGRGRAAXXX is the right choice. Branch codes are only needed when the account holder explicitly asks for it.

When in doubt, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Branch codes can change when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Criminals regularly use payment requests with changed bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

Never rely on contact details in the same message that contains the change. Urgency and secrecy are red flags. Acted too fast? Call your bank straight away and ask them to try to recall the payment.

People receiving money are targeted too: a classic trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to refund the difference. Do not act before the money has really arrived – ask Bank of Greece if something looks wrong.

When will the money arrive at Bank of Greece?

How fast a transfer reaches Bank of Greece depends on several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Payments made after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often start the next business day. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also cause a delay, even when all details are correct.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms.

Only the sending bank can request a trace. Request from the sender the payment receipt; that often settles the question quickly.

Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

The currency of Greece is the Euro (EUR). Money sent in a different currency is converted into EUR. Every conversion costs the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives. Often it is cheaper if you send EUR directly via a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert.

The EUR rate fluctuates throughout the day. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.