HSBC Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

What MIDLGGS1 means for a payment to HSBC Bank PLC

MIDLGGS1 and MIDLGGS1XXX are the short and the long form of the same bank identifier, and both lead to HSBC Bank PLC in St. Peter Port. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to route payments between countries to the correct institution. In daily life you usually see the code on international invoices, in your banking app and on the account details of HSBC Bank PLC customers.

On this page you will find what the code is put together, when it matters and which other details you need for a transfer to or from HSBC Bank PLC. Keep in mind that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the person: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

Watch out for payment fraud

Stay alert if a contact unexpectedly asks you to send money to a different account abroad. The fact that MIDLGGS1 exists is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Always confirm changed bank details through a phone call, using a number you already had. Be suspicious of urgent requests, unusual wording or a sender address that is slightly off. Already paid? Call the bank you paid from straight away and have them start a recall and report the fraud.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference abroad. A payment confirmation from the sender is no proof – check your own account.

Choosing between the 6 SWIFT codes of HSBC Bank PLC

Having 6 codes, HSBC Bank PLC belongs to the banks that use separate codes for parts of the organisation. The head office code is MIDLGGS1XXX.

For the vast majority of incoming transfers, the head office code MIDLGGS1XXX is the right choice. Just use a branch code when the recipient gives you that exact code, for example on a letter or invoice.

Unsure which code to use? Ask the recipient. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Incoming international payments to HSBC Bank PLC

When you expect money from abroad, send the payer everything they need in one go. Give them your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC MIDLGGS1XXX and your address, which some banks require.

Certain sending banks also ask for the bank’s address; it does no harm to include it. Double-check every detail before you share them.

Money from abroad does not always arrive in full. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. On invoices, you can agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

How to check MIDLGGS1 before you pay

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. Check it against MIDLGGS1 on this page and ask if anything does not match.

With a wrong code, the transfer might get stuck, bounce back or cost extra. A mistake in the IBAN or account number can be a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person.

Most online banking apps validate the structure of an IBAN – that confirms the format, not the owner. More and more banks check the name with the account; take any warning seriously. A small test payment is worth it for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

What the XXX in MIDLGGS1XXX means

The layout of a BIC is always the same: four characters for the institution, two for the country and a two-character location code, plus an optional branch code. For HSBC Bank PLC, the 8-character core is MIDLGGS1.

XXX at the end of MIDLGGS1XXX is not a missing value or an error: it indicates the head office of HSBC Bank PLC. Some forms insist on 11 characters, in which case you simply add XXX after MIDLGGS1.

Enter the code as one block, in capitals and without separators, exactly as shown here. A wrong character can send the money to another bank, so copy it carefully.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes here come from public sources. Institutions reorganise, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset.

Treat this page as a starting point, not as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service for money transfers and not affiliated with HSBC Bank PLC. Spotted outdated information? Tell us via our contact form.

Sending GBP to HSBC Bank PLC

Guernsey pays in the British Pound, with the currency code GBP. When you pay another currency has to be converted somewhere along the way. Each conversion costs the amount, even when no fee is shown.

Which bank converts the payment matters. Check how much GBP the recipient gets with different services.

Rates for GBP move all the time. For recurring payments, small differences in the rate add up over time.

International transfers from HSBC Bank PLC: the real cost

The price of a payment abroad has more than one component. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between can take a cut, and when the money changes currency the bank usually uses a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest cost. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares what recipients receive with different services. You can always keep your account at HSBC Bank PLC to fund the transfer, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to HSBC Bank PLC

How fast a transfer reaches HSBC Bank PLC is determined by several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Payments made late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday usually start a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR. Save the payment confirmation; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the person who paid needs to contact their own bank, not the receiving bank. On the receiving end, you can check your account to see a slightly lower amount, since fees may have been deducted.