Merrill Lynch Far East Limited SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Merrill Lynch Far East Limited

If an invoice shows MLHKHKH1 or MLHKHKH1XXX, it is the identical address for Merrill Lynch Far East Limited in Hong Kong SAR China. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to direct payments between countries to the correct bank. It comes up mostly when dealing with payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

On this page we explain what the code means, when you need it and what else you need for a transfer to or from Merrill Lynch Far East Limited. The SWIFT code on its own cannot identify a personal account; that is what the account number or IBAN .

Tracking a transfer to or from Merrill Lynch Far East Limited

There is no single delivery time for international payments: many land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Bank holidays in either country can add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Specialist transfer services usually provide tracking in their app showing how far the payment is.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the sender needs to start with the bank that sent it rather than Merrill Lynch Far East Limited. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation with the date and reference – it helps your own bank look for the money.

Sending money abroad from Merrill Lynch Far East Limited

A bank transfer abroad can cost more than the fee suggests. There is the fee for the transfer itself, possibly charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

Banks rarely list the margin on the rate separately. A simple test: set the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For many routes, a transfer service is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. Before your next transfer, take a minute to compare the total cost on GoldexPay. You can still use your account at Merrill Lynch Far East Limited to fund the transfer.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Merrill Lynch Far East Limited

Merrill Lynch Far East Limited uses 2 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 cities. Only one is the head office code, MLHKHKH1XXX; the rest identify branches, and sometimes specific services.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, go with MLHKHKH1XXX. Only use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Branch codes can change when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Incoming international payments to Merrill Lynch Far East Limited

If you expect a payment from another country, give the sender a complete set of details. Give them the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code MLHKHKH1XXX and your address.

The sender’s bank may request the address of your bank. A typo in your account number is harder to fix than you might think.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank; check the price list of Merrill Lynch Far East Limited. Agree with the sender who pays which costs.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

One of the most common tricks works like this: you receive a message saying that a supplier has new bank details and asking you to pay there from now on. The fact that MLHKHKH1 exists is no guarantee that the account is legitimate.

Never trust a phone number from the same email that contains the change. Be suspicious of urgent requests, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. When a payment has already gone to the wrong account, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud also target the receiver. Someone sends more than agreed and asks you to return the extra to a new account. Wait until the money has really arrived and check with Merrill Lynch Far East Limited if anything seems off.

A note on our data

This directory draws on publicly available sources and we update it periodically. Even so, banks merge or change codes and our data may lag behind. The number of codes we show are based on our own data and not on information from Merrill Lynch Far East Limited itself.

Use our data as a starting point, rather than as the final word. We are an independent comparison service and not affiliated with Merrill Lynch Far East Limited. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message.

Is MLHKHKH1 still correct? How to check

The most reliable place for the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. Check it against MLHKHKH1 here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or cost extra – sometimes after weeks of searching. A mistake in the account number can be more serious because it can reach the wrong person.

Most online banking apps check the structure of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a payee name check before sending gives extra certainty. Sending a small amount first is a sensible step for large sums despite the extra fee.

The Hong Kong Dollar and what conversion costs you

The national currency of Hong Kong SAR China is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD). A payment in a foreign currency is exchanged into HKD before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate. There is rarely a separate charge for the conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives. Check what HKD the recipient gets with several services.

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

Why Merrill Lynch Far East Limited has an 8- and an 11-character code

The layout of every SWIFT code never changes: four characters for the institution, two for the country and a two-character location code, plus an optional branch code. For Merrill Lynch Far East Limited, the 8-character core is MLHKHKH1.

XXX at the end of MLHKHKH1XXX does not stand for a placeholder or a mistake: it indicates the head office of Merrill Lynch Far East Limited. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, and then you can add XXX behind MLHKHKH1.

Type the code as one block, in capitals and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Watch for O versus 0 and the letter I and the digit 1; they are easy to mix up.