Barclays Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

Barclays Bank PLC SWIFT code: BARCGGS1

Whether a recipient gives you BARCGGS1 or BARCGGS1XXX, it is the identical address for Barclays Bank PLC in Guernsey. The code does one job: it ensures that a cross-border transfer reaches the right bank. In daily life you usually see the code on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details that Barclays Bank PLC provides.

On this page you will find how the code is put together, when it matters and what else a transfer to or from Barclays Bank PLC requires. Remember that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the account: the account number or IBAN does that part.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Scammers often use payment requests containing new bank details. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Verify changed bank details through a different channel, such as a phone number you already know, not by replying to the message. Watch out for urgent requests, unusual wording or a sender address that is slightly off. If money has already gone to the wrong account, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference to another account. Do not act before the money has really arrived – ask Barclays Bank PLC if something looks wrong.

Before you send: check the Barclays Bank PLC code

Have the recipient send you the account details directly from a recent statement. Check that code with BARCGGS1 on this page and ask if anything does not match.

Errors in the SWIFT code are costly more than disastrous: often the payment comes back, minus fees. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is more serious because it can reach the wrong person, so check that just as carefully.

An automatic check in your banking app merely tells you that the code is valid, not that it is the right account. More and more banks compare the payee name against the account. A small test payment can be a sensible step for large sums.

How up to date is this code?

This directory draws on publicly available sources. Banks reorganise, close branches and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. Counts and locations are from our directory.

Before a payment of any size, confirm the code with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is a comparison site and not affiliated with Barclays Bank PLC. Should you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a message.

What to give a sender who pays you at Barclays Bank PLC

If you are waiting for a payment from another country, give the sender everything they need in one go. What they need is: your name, IBAN or account number, BARCGGS1XXX and, for some countries, your postal address.

Their bank may also ask for the address of your bank, in which case the St. Peter Port head office is the usual answer. A typo in your account number is harder to fix than it looks.

Expect that the incoming amount is below what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, Barclays Bank PLC may charge for incoming payments, and if the currency changes, a markup on the rate comes on top. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

Accounts at Barclays Bank PLC are typically held in GBP, the local currency. Money sent in a different currency will be exchanged into GBP on its way to Barclays Bank PLC, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. Every conversion costs the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Who converts the payment matters. Transferring the money already in GBP often avoids an extra conversion at the receiving end.

The rate for GBP changes throughout the day, so the amount you see is usually only valid for a short time. For regular payments, a slightly better rate make a real difference over time.

Sending money abroad from Barclays Bank PLC

A bank transfer abroad costs rather more than the listed fee. There is the fee for the transfer itself, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

Many banks do not show the margin on the rate as a cost. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For many routes, a specialist provider is cheaper than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives with different services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot. You can always keep your account at Barclays Bank PLC as the source of the money.

Head office or branch code at Barclays Bank PLC?

We have 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for Barclays Bank PLC, spread over 1 cities. Besides the head office code BARCGGS1XXX, you will find codes for regional offices and specialised units.

For the vast majority of incoming transfers, the head office code BARCGGS1XXX is what you need. If you have been given a branch code, stick to it rather than replacing it with the head office code.

The safest route is to take the code straight from the recipient’s invoice. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than BARCGGS1XXX.

When will the money arrive at Barclays Bank PLC?

There is no single delivery time for international payments: some arrive within a day. Bank holidays in either country can add a day or more to the journey. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also add a delay, even when all details are correct.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Each gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it for any trace request.

Only the sending bank is able to start an official trace; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation including the reference.

Why Barclays Bank PLC has an 8- and an 11-character code

A BIC is built from fixed blocks: characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six show the country and the two after that mark the location. The result is BARCGGS1 for Barclays Bank PLC.

The 11-character version has a three-character extension for a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, they simply mean the head office.

Do not add spaces, dots when you enter BARCGGS1; the code is always written in one block. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 and I versus 1; they are easy to mix up.