SWIFT/BIC codes in Hong Kong SAR China: banks starting with S

Finding a SWIFT code in Hong Kong SAR China

For Hong Kong SAR China our database holds 1362 SWIFT/BIC codes from 1158 financial institutions. Each code points to an institution or one of its branches and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Each bank is listed with its own page with its main code and, where available, codes for branches and departments. Below the list we explain how a code from Hong Kong SAR China is put together, how to send money to Hong Kong SAR China without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

SWIFT codes in Hong Kong SAR China: banks under :letter

The letter filter narrows the list down to banks from Hong Kong SAR China that begin with :letter to make searching quicker. The totals mentioned here apply to all 1158 banks and not only this letter.

If the bank you need is missing here, check the full list – the registered name can differ from the name people use. The full overview for Hong Kong SAR China is available if you cannot find the bank here.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, The and its SWIFT codes

Of the 1158 banks we list for Hong Kong SAR China, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, The has the largest number of SWIFT codes. Its main office uses HSBCHKHHXXX and that code covers most payments.

Many codes usually means that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. Paying someone at Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, The? Use HSBCHKHHXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Hong Kong SAR China

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. A wrong code can cause a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees – compare it with the code in our list.

We gather bank codes from publicly available data and check our list from time to time. Even so, banks merge or change codes, so information can be out of date. For a payment of any size, check the code with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site, not a bank.

Watch out for invoices containing a new account – a common fraud method. Before paying, verify changed details through a separate channel.

What a sender needs to pay you in Hong Kong SAR China

A sender in another country needs a few details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. That means: your full name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your address.

Find your bank in the list on this page and compare the code with your own bank details, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Certain sending banks may also want your bank’s address.

Expect that the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Sending money to Hong Kong SAR China for less

When you send money to Hong Kong SAR China through your bank, the stated fee is rarely all of the cost. There is a transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks and, above all, the exchange rate markup.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the biggest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay lists these providers side by side, showing what actually arrives in Hong Kong SAR China before you commit.

What the letters in a Hong Kong SAR China BIC mean

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long. The first four letters stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and the next two mark the location.

Whatever the bank, every code from Hong Kong SAR China share the same fifth and sixth letters. Codes with other letters in that position belong to another country, even if the bank name looks familiar.

An 11-character code ends in three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need.

Paying a bank in Hong Kong SAR China from abroad

Because Hong Kong SAR China is outside SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent through SWIFT. This means the payment always needs the BIC of the recipient’s bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Not all countries use the IBAN; in that case the local account number is used instead. The recipient’s bank usually has instructions for payments from abroad, and it is worth following them to the letter. International transfers sometimes go via correspondent banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

The Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) and conversion costs

Most accounts in Hong Kong SAR China are usually held in HKD, the local currency. A payment in a foreign currency will be exchanged into HKD before it reaches the account.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Often it is cheaper if you send HKD straight away through a provider with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Exchange rates move during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.

Transfer times to Hong Kong SAR China

How quickly a payment arrives in Hong Kong SAR China is determined by a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Bank holidays in either country add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every payment gets a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Money transfer services usually show a status in their app.