BNP Paribas SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of BNP Paribas

The 8-character code BNPAHKHH and the full code BNPAHKHHXXX refer to one and the same institution: BNP Paribas. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain which institution is meant to get the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. In daily life you mostly come across the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and in the bank details of BNP Paribas customers.

Further down you will find the practical side: receiving money at BNP Paribas, sending money abroad and how to check a SWIFT code before you hit send. Remember that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the person: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

Incoming international payments to BNP Paribas

A sender in another country needs a few details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. Give them your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, SWIFT code BNPAHKHHXXX and your address.

You can include BNP Paribas and Hong Kong too, since some forms ask for it. Double-check the details before you send them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Stay wary when someone unexpectedly asks you to pay into a different account abroad. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Always verify changed bank details through a phone call. Urgency or secrecy tend to be warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If a payment was sent to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Fraud can also work the other way: someone claims to have sent too much and wants you to return the extra. Wait until the money has really arrived – ask BNP Paribas if something looks wrong.

Sending money abroad from BNP Paribas

A bank transfer abroad costs more than the listed fee. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest item, and it is easy to miss. An easy check: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares transfer providers next to each other, showing what actually arrives. You can always use your account at BNP Paribas as the source of the money; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Before you send: check the BNP Paribas code

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. When the code you were given does not match BNPAHKHH or BNPAHKHHXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or BNP Paribas.

If the code is wrong, the payment might get stuck, bounce back or cost extra. Do not forget the account number: an error there can be harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

Many banking apps check the structure of an IBAN and sometimes look up the BIC automatically – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a payee name check before sending gives an extra layer of safety. When you pay someone new, some people start with a small amount first.

BNPAHKHH or BNPAHKHHXXX – which one to use?

The layout of a BIC never changes: a bank code of four letters, two for the country and a two-character location code. Combined, these eight characters form BNPAHKHH – the version you usually see online.

The 11-character version has a three-character extension for a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, the code points to the head office, so BNPAHKHHXXX and BNPAHKHH are interchangeable.

Enter the code as one block, in capitals and without separators, exactly as shown here. Copying the code is safer than typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.

A note on our data

We gather bank codes from publicly available data and check our list from time to time. It is possible that a code here is no longer current, for example after a merger. The figures on this page are based on our own data, not official figures from BNP Paribas.

Use this page as a reference, rather than as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service and not affiliated with BNP Paribas. Spotted outdated information? Tell us through the contact page.

The Hong Kong Dollar and what conversion costs you

The national currency in Hong Kong SAR China is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD). When you pay money in a different currency gets converted at some point. Every conversion eats into the amount, even when no fee is shown.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount. Transferring the amount directly in HKD often prevents a second conversion by BNP Paribas.

Exchange rates move all the time, and some providers let you lock in a rate. On larger amounts, a small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

When will the money arrive at BNP Paribas?

There is no fixed delivery time: some land the same day or the next. Weekends and public holidays in either country add a day or more to the journey. Extra checks by one of the banks can also cause some delay, regardless of the details.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact the sending bank about the tracking status and the transaction reference. Money transfer services usually provide a status online so you can see how far the money is.

A delayed transfer is investigated by the sending bank. Ask the sender for the payment receipt with the date and reference; that often settles the question quickly.

Choosing between the 4 SWIFT codes of BNP Paribas

Our database contains 4 SWIFT/BIC codes for BNP Paribas. Besides the head office code BNPAHKHHXXX, you will find codes for individual branches and departments.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with BNPAHKHHXXX. Only use a branch code when your contact explicitly asks for it, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

Unsure which code applies? Check with the recipient or the bank itself. Branch codes are more likely to change than BNPAHKHHXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.