SWIFT/BIC codes in Guatemala

Finding a SWIFT code in Guatemala

For Guatemala our database holds 61 SWIFT/BIC codes from 49 banks. A SWIFT code shows the banks handling a transfer exactly which bank should receive the money.

Choose a 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 codes from Guatemala are built, how to send money there at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

How long does a transfer to Guatemala take?

There is no fixed answer for transfers to Guatemala: many land the same day or the next. Transfers sent late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually start a business day later.

When a payment takes longer than expected, the sender should contact the sending bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Bank or transfer service for Guatemala?

The price of a transfer to Guatemala has more than one component, and the fee on your screen is only one of them. Besides the fee, intermediary banks can take a cut, and when the money is converted the bank often applies a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay lists transfer services side by side so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.

Most SWIFT codes in Guatemala: Banco del Ejercito S.A.

Banco del Ejercito S.A. tops the list of Guatemala banks in the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office uses BAEJGTG1XXX – the code most transfers need.

Practice differs in whether they register branch codes. Making a payment to Banco del Ejercito S.A.? Go with BAEJGTG1XXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Why a transfer to Guatemala needs a SWIFT code

Guatemala is outside the SEPA area. International transfers to Guatemala normally travel over the SWIFT network, and the BIC of the receiving bank is required.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN. The recipient’s bank usually provides a list of required details for incoming international payments – follow them exactly. Before it arrives, a transfer may pass through intermediary banks that charge for their part.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Guatemala

SWIFT/BIC codes follow the same format worldwide: 8 characters. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

In every code from Guatemala, characters five and six show the two-letter ISO code of Guatemala. When those two letters do not match Guatemala, you are looking at a bank somewhere else, so check again.

If the last three are XXX, it refers to the main office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

How reliable is this list?

Ask the recipient to copy the account details directly from a recent statement. An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

The directory on GoldexPay is based on public sources that we update periodically. Institutions reorganise, change names and retire codes. Before any payment that matters, confirm the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Scammers often use fake invoices with new bank details. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Incoming international payments in Guatemala

If you expect a payment from another country on an account in Guatemala, give the sender all details at once. That means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your postal address.

Your bank’s code is in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. Certain sending banks may also ask for your bank’s address.

The amount you receive is often less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. For business payments, agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.