Magyar Nemzeti Bank SWIFT/BIC code

Magyar Nemzeti Bank SWIFT code: MANEHUHB

MANEHUHB and MANEHUHBXXX are two spellings of the same bank identifier, and both point to Magyar Nemzeti Bank in Budapest. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain which institution is meant to get the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. In practice you mostly come across it on invoices from abroad, in your banking app and in the bank details that Magyar Nemzeti Bank provides.

On this page you can read what the code means, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from Magyar Nemzeti Bank requires. A SWIFT code identifies an institution, not a single account, which is why you always need the account number too.

Incoming international payments to Magyar Nemzeti Bank

When you expect money from abroad, give the sender all details at once. In practice that means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code MANEHUHBXXX (or MANEHUHB) and usually your address.

Certain banks also ask for the address of Magyar Nemzeti Bank in Budapest, so keep it at hand. Check each detail before you send them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

What lands in your account is often lower than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank; check the price list of Magyar Nemzeti Bank. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Magyar Nemzeti Bank: head office code versus branch codes

Magyar Nemzeti Bank has 2 different SWIFT/BIC codes. Only one is the head office code; the rest belong to branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

Usually you do not need to look up a branch: payments sent to MANEHUHBXXX reach Magyar Nemzeti Bank correctly. If you have been given a branch code, use it as it is rather than swapping it for the head office code.

If you are not sure, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

Sending HUF to Magyar Nemzeti Bank

Hungary pays in the Hungarian Forint. A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into HUF, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate charge for the conversion; it is built into the rate.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Transferring the amount directly in HUF usually prevents a second conversion by Magyar Nemzeti Bank.

Rates for HUF move all the time – some services let you fix a rate in advance. On larger amounts, a seemingly small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Magyar Nemzeti Bank

A SWIFT payment usually needs anywhere from one to several business days. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country can add a day or more, since banks do not process on those days. Occasionally a bank asks about the purpose of a payment.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank for the tracking status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Money transfer services often show a status in their app so you can see where the money is.

The bank that sent the money can request a trace. On the receiving end, it helps to check your statements for a slightly lower amount, since fees may have been deducted.

International transfers from Magyar Nemzeti Bank: the real cost

An international bank payment costs rather more than the listed fee. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can deduct a fee, and when the money changes currency the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: the bank converts at a rate with a margin built in. A simple test: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For many routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. On GoldexPay we compare the amount that arrives across services, so you can pick the cheapest route. Using a transfer service does not require leaving Magyar Nemzeti Bank: you simply pay the service from your account.

MANEHUHB or MANEHUHBXXX – which one to use?

A SWIFT code is made up of a few fixed parts: characters one to four stand for the bank, the next two give the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. The result is MANEHUHB, the short form of the code.

Many banks and apps accept either length. If yours asks for eleven characters, use MANEHUHBXXX.

In practice the code is typed in capitals. Look out for O versus 0 or I versus 1, a common source of typos.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Criminals often send payment requests with new bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account – scammers simply use real codes.

Before paying, verify a change of bank details through a phone call on a number you know, not one from the message. Urgency or requests to keep it quiet tend to be red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. Already paid? Call the bank you paid from straight away and ask them to try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

Recipients are targeted too: a classic trick is an overpayment followed by a request to send back the difference abroad. Do not act before the money has really arrived.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes here are taken from publicly available data which we refresh regularly. Banks reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Counts and locations are from our directory and are not confirmed by Magyar Nemzeti Bank.

Before a payment of any size, always confirm the BIC with Magyar Nemzeti Bank or the recipient. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers and not part of Magyar Nemzeti Bank. If you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a short note.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Magyar Nemzeti Bank

Have the recipient copy their bank details straight from their online banking. Compare that code with MANEHUHB here.

Mistakes in the BIC tend to be costly more than fatal. Remember the IBAN: a mistake there is harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

A validity check in your banking app only tells you that the code is valid, not that it is the right account. More and more banks check the name with the account before you confirm; take any warning seriously. A small test payment is worth it for a large first payment.

Euro transfers to Magyar Nemzeti Bank: is a BIC needed?

Hungary is part of the SEPA area. When you send euros from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN; many banks no longer ask for the BIC.

You still need MANEHUHBXXX when sending payments in other currencies or money from outside the SEPA area. Some forms still ask for the BIC; if so, enter MANEHUHB or MANEHUHBXXX.

SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Charges on SEPA payments tend to be low as long as everything stays in euros.