Banco de Guatemala SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Banco de Guatemala

The short code BAGUGTGB and the 11-character code BAGUGTGBXXX identify the same bank: Banco de Guatemala, with its head office in Guatemala. A BIC does one job: it ensures that money from abroad reaches the right bank. In daily life you mostly see the code on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details that Banco de Guatemala provides.

Below you will find the practical questions: receiving money at Banco de Guatemala, paying someone in another country and how to verify a SWIFT code before you hit send. The BIC names an institution, never a single account; the IBAN or account number does that.

Incoming international payments to Banco de Guatemala

If you expect money from abroad, send the payer a complete set of details. Give them the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code BAGUGTGBXXX and your address, which some banks require.

It helps to include the bank name and Guatemala too, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. Check each detail before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

An incoming payment will not always land in full. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank; check the price list of Banco de Guatemala. Agree with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Banco de Guatemala

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. Check it against BAGUGTGB on this page and ask if anything does not match.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to delays, a returned payment or additional charges for investigation. An error in the account number can be a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person; check it just as carefully.

A format check by your bank only confirms that the IBAN is valid, not that it is the right account. More and more banks compare the payee name against the account. When you pay someone new, many people send a small test amount and wait for confirmation.

What the XXX in BAGUGTGBXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code has the same eight core characters: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. That gives you BAGUGTGB for Banco de Guatemala.

Many banks and apps work with both lengths. If yours requires eleven characters, enter BAGUGTGBXXX; if it wants eight, use BAGUGTGB.

As a rule the code is typed in capitals. A wrong letter can send the money to another bank.

Tracking a transfer to or from Banco de Guatemala

There is no single delivery time for international payments: many arrive the same day or the next while others need several business days. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country can add a day or more, since banks do not process on those days. 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. Every gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often provide a status online so you can see how far the payment has got.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation including the reference; that often settles the question quickly.

Banco de Guatemala: head office code versus branch codes

Our directory lists 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Banco de Guatemala, spread over 1 locations. Besides the head office code BAGUGTGBXXX, you will find codes for regional offices and specialised units.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, use BAGUGTGBXXX or its short form BAGUGTGB. Just use a branch code when the recipient explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

When in doubt, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Be alert when a contact unexpectedly asks you to send money to another account. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Do not trust contact details in the same message that announces the new account. Pressure or requests to keep it quiet tend to be warning signs. When money has already gone to the wrong account, call your bank right away.

Fraud can also work the other way. Someone claims to have sent too much and wants you to refund the extra. Do not act before the money is actually in your account.

International transfers from Banco de Guatemala: the real cost

A bank transfer abroad costs more than the listed fee. Besides a fixed fee, banks in between can deduct a fee, and if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest item. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many routes, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients receive with different services. You can always keep your account at Banco de Guatemala as the source of the money; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

A note on our data

The codes on this page are taken from public sources. Banks reorganise, change names and change codes. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory.

See the information on this page as a helpful check and rely on the recipient or Banco de Guatemala for the final confirmation. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service and not affiliated with Banco de Guatemala. If you notice a mistake, we welcome a message via the contact page.