SWIFT/BIC codes in India: banks starting with L

Finding a SWIFT code in India

This directory contains 394 banks and other institutions in India and 4272 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get the money.

Every bank is listed with its own page with the head office code and, where available, codes for branches and departments. The sections below covers how the codes work, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes before a payment.

The Indian Rupee (INR) and conversion costs

Bank accounts in India are typically held in INR. If you send money in a different currency, it has to be converted at some point.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount. Check how much INR the recipient gets with several services. Exchange rates move all the time – some providers let you lock in a rate.

Filter: banks in India with :letter

You are looking at a filtered list: only banks in India with a name starting with :letter. The totals on this page cover all 394 banks.

If the bank you need is missing under :letter, check the full list – the registered name can differ from the name people use. The full overview for India remains one click away if you cannot find the bank here.

About our data and how to check a code

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. A wrong code can cause delays, a returned payment or additional charges.

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from publicly available sources. Banks merge, close branches and retire codes. Treat this list as a starting point, not as the final word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. We are a comparison site.

Watch out for payment requests containing a new account – a common fraud method. Before paying, verify a change of bank details by phone on a number you know.

What the letters in a India BIC mean

SWIFT/BIC codes follow the same format worldwide: 8 characters plus an optional three-character extension. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six are the country code and the next two mark the location.

No matter which bank, all India codes share the same country code in positions five and six. If the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank in another country.

If the last three are XXX, it means the head office. Choose a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one – otherwise stick with the head office.

Transfer times to India

How quickly money arrives in India depends on a few things: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and time zones. Public holidays in India or in the sending country can add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Each payment gets a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Money transfer services usually show tracking online so you can follow the payment.

Sending money to India for less

An international bank payment to India can cost rather more than you think. Besides the fee, correspondent banks may take a cut, and when the money is converted the bank usually uses a rate below the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest part of the cost because it is hidden in the rate. A simple test: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialised transfer providers frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.

SWIFT transfers to India

Since India is outside SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent through SWIFT. That means the payment always needs the SWIFT/BIC code of the receiving bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Not every country uses IBAN numbers. Ask the recipient which details their bank needs for incoming international payments; banks often publish instructions for this. SWIFT payments can pass through one or more intermediary banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

Most SWIFT codes in India: State Bank of India

Of the 394 banks we list for India, State Bank of India is listed with the largest number of SWIFT codes. Its head office code is SBININBBXXX – the code most transfers need.

A large number of codes usually means that the bank registers branches and departments separately. Making a payment to State Bank of India? Go with SBININBBXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Receiving money in India from abroad

To receive a transfer from abroad into a India account, the sender has to have not just the SWIFT code. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

The code of your bank is in the list on this page. You can add the name and city of your bank.

What lands in your account is often less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank. On invoices, agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.