Barclays Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

Barclays Bank PLC SWIFT code: BARCIMD1

The 8-character code BARCIMD1 and the full code BARCIMD1XXX refer to the same bank: Barclays Bank PLC in Douglas, Isle of Man. A BIC has a single purpose: it makes sure that a cross-border transfer ends up at the right bank. You will need it mostly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

Below you will find the practical questions: receiving money at Barclays Bank PLC, sending money abroad and how to check the code before you hit send. The SWIFT code alone does not identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

How to check BARCIMD1 before you pay

Ask the recipient to send you their bank details directly from their banking app. Check that code with BARCIMD1 on this page and ask if anything does not match.

With a wrong code, the transfer might be delayed, be returned or end up costing more, and tracing it can take weeks. An error in the IBAN or account number is a bigger problem.

A format check in your banking app merely tells you that the code exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. If your bank offers it, a payee name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first is worth it for large sums despite the extra fee.

Barclays Bank PLC: head office code versus branch codes

Barclays Bank PLC has 8 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 cities. Only one is the head office code; the others identify branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

In most cases there is no need to pick a branch: transfers sent to BARCIMD1XXX are routed within Barclays Bank PLC without problems. Just use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code.

Not sure which code applies? Check with the recipient. Codes can change when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Scammers often send payment requests containing new bank details. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Verify changed bank details through a different channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, not by replying to the message. Watch out for urgent requests, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. Already paid? Contact your bank straight away and have them start a recall; also report it to the police.

Recipients are targeted too: one known trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference abroad. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

Accounts at Barclays Bank PLC are usually held in GBP, the local currency of Isle of Man. A payment in a foreign currency will be exchanged into GBP on its way to Barclays Bank PLC, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. Each conversion costs something.

Which bank converts the money matters, because each party uses its own rate. In many cases it is cheaper to send GBP straight away through a transfer service with a good rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

The rate for GBP fluctuates constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. For regular payments, small differences in the rate add up over time.

International transfers from Barclays Bank PLC: the real cost

A bank transfer abroad can cost rather more than the fee suggests. You pay the fee for the transfer itself, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup when the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee: many banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Specialised transfer providers often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay lists these services side by side so you can see the amount the recipient gets. You can always use your account at Barclays Bank PLC to fund the transfer, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

What to give a sender who pays you at Barclays Bank PLC

When you expect a payment from another country, send the payer a complete set of details. Share the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC BARCIMD1XXX and your address.

Some sending banks also ask for the name and address of Barclays Bank PLC, so keep it at hand. A typo in the IBAN is harder to fix than you might think.

Money from abroad does not always land in full. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank; check the price list of Barclays Bank PLC. On invoices, it is common to state who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

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

The layout of every SWIFT code never changes: a bank code of four letters, two for the country and two for the location. Together, those parts form BARCIMD1 – the version you usually see online.

Most banks and apps accept either length. If yours asks for eleven characters, use BARCIMD1XXX, otherwise BARCIMD1 is fine.

In practice the code is written in capitals and without spaces. Look out for O versus 0 and I versus 1.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Barclays Bank PLC

An international transfer typically takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Bank holidays in the sending or receiving country can add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Sometimes a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment before releasing it.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank about the tracking status or the UETR; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived.

The bank that sent the money is able to start an official trace or a recall; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. Request from the sender the payment receipt.

How up to date is this code?

The details here come from public sources. Banks merge, change names and retire codes, and a directory never catches every change immediately. Figures such as the number of codes are from our own dataset.

For any payment that matters, always confirm the code with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and not affiliated with Barclays Bank PLC. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a short note.