UBS AG Hong Kong Branch SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of UBS AG Hong Kong Branch

The short code UBSWHKHH and the 11-character code UBSWHKHHXXX identify one and the same institution: UBS AG Hong Kong Branch, with its head office in Hong Kong. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to direct payments between countries to the right institution. In daily life you mostly come across the code on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details of UBS AG Hong Kong Branch customers.

Further down you will find the practical side: money coming in from abroad, paying someone in another country and how to verify a SWIFT code before you confirm a payment. The BIC identifies a bank or branch, not a single account, which is why you always need the account number too.

Before you send: check the UBS AG Hong Kong Branch code

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details. When the code you were given does not match UBSWHKHH or UBSWHKHHXXX, do not guess: check with the recipient or with UBS AG Hong Kong Branch directly.

Errors in the SWIFT code tend to be costly more than fatal – usually the money comes back, minus fees and time lost. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is a bigger problem.

An automatic check by your bank only confirms that the code is valid – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. Where available, a name check on the recipient adds extra certainty. For a first payment, many people start with a small amount first.

How up to date is this code?

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from publicly available data and update them from time to time. Institutions merge, change names and change codes. The figures on this page are based on our own data.

Treat our directory on this page as a helpful check. GoldexPay is a comparison service and not part of UBS AG Hong Kong Branch. Found outdated information? Let us know through the contact page so we can correct it.

Incoming international payments to UBS AG Hong Kong Branch

A sender in another country needs several details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. What they need is: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, UBSWHKHHXXX or UBSWHKHH and in many cases your postal address.

The sender’s bank may also ask for the address of your bank. A mistake in the IBAN is more trouble than it looks; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank. On invoices, it is common to state how the fees are split.

What a transfer from UBS AG Hong Kong Branch abroad really costs

What you pay for an international transfer has several parts. On top of the transfer fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may take a cut, and when the money changes currency the bank usually applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

Many banks rarely list their exchange rate markup as a cost. An easy check: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many routes, a specialist provider is cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay lists these services side by side, showing the amount the recipient gets before you commit. Using a transfer service does not require closing your account at UBS AG Hong Kong Branch: you simply pay the service from your account.

Choosing between the 3 SWIFT codes of UBS AG Hong Kong Branch

UBS AG Hong Kong Branch uses 3 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 cities. One of them is the head office code; the rest belong to branches, and sometimes specific services.

In most cases there is no need to look up a branch: transfers sent to UBSWHKHHXXX are routed within UBS AG Hong Kong Branch correctly. A branch code only makes sense when the recipient’s bank specifically mentions it, which is more common for business accounts and trade services.

The best way is to take the code straight from the account holder’s invoice. Codes for branches are more likely to change than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

The Hong Kong Dollar and what conversion costs you

Hong Kong SAR China uses the Hong Kong Dollar. When you pay another 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 money already in HKD often prevents an extra conversion by UBS AG Hong Kong Branch, provided the rate you get is fair.

Exchange rates move all the time, and some providers let you lock in a rate. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate make a real difference over time.

When will the money arrive at UBS AG Hong Kong Branch?

A SWIFT payment typically needs one to a few business days. Weekends and public holidays in either country can add extra days. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also add a delay, even when all details are correct.

If a transfer is late, ask the sending bank about the tracking status and the transaction reference so they can trace it along the chain. Save your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. As a recipient, it helps to check your account to see a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

What the XXX in UBSWHKHHXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with the same eight core characters: a four-letter bank code, two letters for the country and two characters for the location. That gives you UBSWHKHH.

The long version adds three more characters for a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, they simply mean the head office, which is why UBSWHKHHXXX and UBSWHKHH lead to the same place.

As a rule the code is written in capitals, without spaces or dashes. Watch for O versus 0 or I versus 1.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

One of the most common tricks goes like this: you receive a message saying that a contact has new bank details and asking you to pay there from now on. The fact that UBSWHKHH exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is legitimate – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Verify changed payment details via a separate channel, never via the email that asked for the change. Pressure or secrecy tend to be warning signs. Already paid? Call your bank straight away and ask them to start a recall.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much followed by a request to refund the difference to another account. Do not act before the money is actually in your account – ask UBS AG Hong Kong Branch if something looks wrong.