Barclays Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Barclays Bank PLC

The 8-character code BARCINBB and the 11-character code BARCINBBXXX identify one and the same institution: Barclays Bank PLC. The code has a single purpose: it makes sure that an international payment ends up at the right bank. You will need it mainly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

Below 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 hit send. The SWIFT code alone does not identify a personal account; that is what the IBAN or account number .

Scams that use SWIFT codes

One of the most common tricks goes like this: you receive a message claiming that a contact has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. A real SWIFT code says nothing about whether the request is genuine – scammers simply use real codes.

Before paying, verify a change of bank details by phone on a number you know, not one from the message. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet tend to be warning signs. When a payment was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud can also work the other way: someone sends more than agreed and wants you to refund the difference to a new account. Do not act before the money has really arrived – ask Barclays Bank PLC if something looks wrong.

Paying someone abroad from your Barclays Bank PLC account

A bank transfer abroad costs more than the fee suggests. There is the fee for the transfer itself, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the currency changes.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee: the bank converts using an exchange rate that includes a margin. An easy check: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay compares these services next to each other, showing what actually arrives for the same amount sent. You can still keep your account at Barclays Bank PLC, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

Incoming international payments to Barclays Bank PLC

To receive a transfer from abroad at Barclays Bank PLC, the person paying you has to have not just the SWIFT code. The basics are: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, BARCINBBXXX and, for some countries, your home address.

Some sending banks also ask for the name and address of Barclays Bank PLC. Double-check the details before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Expect that the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank; check the price list of Barclays Bank PLC. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Barclays Bank PLC

An international transfer usually takes anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often start a business day later. Extra checks by one of the banks can also add some delay, even when all details are correct.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank for the tracking status; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status online showing where the payment has got.

A missing payment has to be traced from the sending side. On the receiving end, it helps to check your statements for a slightly lower amount.

Why Barclays Bank PLC has an 8- and an 11-character code

The structure of every SWIFT code is always the same: a bank code of four letters, two for the country and a two-character location code. The result is BARCINBB, the short form of the code.

XXX at the end of BARCINBBXXX does not stand for a missing value or a mistake: it stands for the head office of Barclays Bank PLC. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, in which case you simply enter XXX after BARCINBB.

Do not add spaces or dashes when you type BARCINBB or BARCINBBXXX. Watch for O versus 0 or I versus 1, a common source of typos.

How up to date is this code?

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and update our list from time to time. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes, so information can be out of date. The figures on this page are based on our own data.

Before a payment that matters, confirm the code with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Barclays Bank PLC. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a short note.

The Indian Rupee and what conversion costs you

India pays in the Indian Rupee (INR). Money sent in a different currency is converted into INR before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate. You rarely see a separate charge for that conversion; it is built into the rate.

Which bank converts the money matters. Compare what INR arrives via different services.

The INR rate changes throughout the day. On larger amounts, even seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Before you send: check the Barclays Bank PLC code

The most reliable place for the correct BIC remains paperwork issued by the bank like a bank statement or the account page in online banking. Compare it against BARCINBB on this page and ask if anything does not match.

An incorrect BIC can cause delays, a returned payment or additional charges. Do not forget the IBAN: an error there is more difficult to correct than a wrong code.

An automatic check by your bank only tells you that the code exists. More and more banks check the name against the account. For a first payment, many people start with a small test amount before sending the rest.

Choosing between the 3 SWIFT codes of Barclays Bank PLC

Having 3 codes in 2 locations, Barclays Bank PLC belongs to the banks that register separate codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The main code remains BARCINBBXXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with BARCINBBXXX or its short form BARCINBB. When you receive a branch code, use it as it is instead of replacing it for the head office code.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient which code their bank gave them. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than the head office code.