SWIFT/BIC codes in India: banks starting with P

Bank SWIFT codes for India

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 394 banks in India. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a transfer exactly which bank is meant to get the money.

Search for the recipient’s bank in the list and open its page for all codes we have and what else a transfer requires. Below the list you can read how codes from India are built, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

Incoming international payments in India

To receive an international payment in India, the person paying you needs not just the BIC. Share your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Your bank’s code appears in the list on this page. It helps to add your bank’s name and city as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

The amount you receive can be less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank; check the price list of your bank. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Paying in INR: what conversion costs you

Bank accounts in India are typically held in INR, the local currency. If you send money in a different currency, the amount gets converted at some point.

Which bank converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Check how much INR arrives with several services before choosing one. Rates for INR move during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.

SWIFT codes in India: banks under :letter

Here you see a filtered list: only institutions in India whose name begins with :letter. The counts in the introduction always cover all banks in India.

Many institutions are listed under their official name rather than the name on their app or website, so the letter can differ from what you expect. The full overview for India is one click away when you cannot find the bank here.

What a transfer to India really costs

An international bank payment to India can cost more than you think. Besides the fee, intermediary banks may take a cut, and when the money is converted the bank often uses a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. An easy check: put the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before you send money to India, it is worth comparing the total cost via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

Verifying a SWIFT code from India

The most reliable place for the right code is a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. An incorrect BIC can cause delays, a returned payment or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and update our list regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. Before a payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers.

Be wary of payment requests containing a new account – a common fraud method. A valid BIC tells you nothing about who owns the account.

Recognising a SWIFT code from India

SWIFT/BIC codes use one international format: eight characters. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

No matter which bank, all India codes have the same fifth and sixth letters, namely the ISO code of India. When the country letters do not match India, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else, so check again.

If the last three are XXX, it means the head office and the short version works just as well. Use a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.

State Bank of India and its SWIFT codes

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

Banks differ in how many codes they register. Paying someone at State Bank of India? Use SBININBBXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

SWIFT transfers to India

India is outside the SEPA area. Payments from abroad normally travel over the SWIFT network – which is why you need the BIC of the recipient’s bank.

Not all countries use the IBAN; in that case the local account number is used instead. The receiving bank often has instructions for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. Before it arrives, a transfer may go through intermediary banks.

How long does a transfer to India take?

An international transfer to India usually needs one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Payments made late in the day or just before weekends and holidays often start a business day later.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi. Each gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Keep your transfer receipt.