SWIFT/BIC codes in Ireland: banks starting with V

Finding a SWIFT code in Ireland

For Ireland we have 1087 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 675 banks. A BIC tells the banks handling a transfer exactly which bank should receive an international payment.

Each bank has its own page showing its main code and, where available, branch codes. The rest of this page explain how the codes work, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing.

How long does a transfer to Ireland take?

How fast money arrives in Ireland depends on several factors: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Bank holidays in Ireland or in the sending country can add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

If the money is delayed, ask the sender to contact the sending bank for a trace – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Keep your transfer receipt.

Which bank in Ireland has the most codes?

Danske Bank A/S leads the list for Ireland in the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is DABAIE2DXXX – the code most transfers need.

How many codes a bank has tells you more about how it registers branches and services than about its size. Making a payment to Danske Bank A/S? Go with DABAIE2DXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

SEPA transfers to Ireland

Ireland belongs to the SEPA area, the zone for uniform euro payments. When you send euros within SEPA, the IBAN is usually enough; many banks no longer ask for the BIC.

A SWIFT code does matter for payments in other currencies and for transfers from outside SEPA. Instant euro transfers have become widely supported across SEPA. Provided the payment stays in euros, the transfer tends to be cheap.

The cheapest way to send money to Ireland

When you send money to Ireland through your bank, the fee you see is only part of the cost. Besides a fixed fee, intermediary banks can take a cut, and when the money is converted the bank usually uses a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the largest cost item. A simple test: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many routes, a specialist provider is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay compares what recipients in Ireland receive with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route.

Incoming international payments in Ireland

A sender in another country needs several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Look up the bank in the list above to check its code – your bank statement is the final word. Some sending banks also want your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.

Expect that the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank. For business payments, agree how the fees are split.

Sending EUR to Ireland

Ireland pays in the Euro, with the currency code EUR. Money sent in a different currency will be exchanged into EUR before it reaches the account, and whoever converts it chooses the rate.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference. Compare what EUR arrives with different services; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Rates for EUR change during the day.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Ireland

SWIFT/BIC codes follow one international format: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. First comes four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

In every code from Ireland, characters five and six show the ISO country code of Ireland. If the country letters do not match Ireland, you are looking at a bank in another country, so check again.

When a code ends in XXX, it refers to the head office. Choose a branch code only if the recipient explicitly gives you one; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Filter: banks in Ireland with :letter

This filter narrows the list to banks from Ireland that begin with :letter. The totals mentioned above still cover the whole country.

If a bank is missing here, check the full list: banks are often registered under their full legal name. The full overview for Ireland is available if you cannot find the bank here.

How reliable is this list?

The safest source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details. A wrong code may lead to delays, a returned payment or extra fees – compare it with the code in our list.

This list draws on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. For a payment that matters, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. We are an independent comparison site, not a bank.

Fraudsters regularly use payment requests with new bank details that look completely genuine. A valid BIC tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine.