Citibank N.a. SWIFT/BIC code

CITIILIT – the SWIFT/BIC code of Citibank N.a.

The 8-character code CITIILIT and the full code CITIILITXXX refer to one and the same institution: Citibank N.a. in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Banks worldwide use BIC codes to direct payments between countries to the correct institution. It comes up mostly when dealing with payments that cross a border or a currency.

Further down we go through the practical questions: money coming in from abroad, paying someone in another country and how to verify a SWIFT code before you confirm a payment. The BIC names a bank or branch, never a single account, which is why you always need the account number too.

Incoming international payments to Citibank N.a.

To receive a transfer from abroad at Citibank N.a., the sender has to have not just the BIC. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code CITIILITXXX and your address, which some banks require.

You can add the bank name and its city too, since some forms ask for it. A mistake in your account number is more trouble than it looks.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank. For business payments, it is common to agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Citibank N.a.

There is no fixed answer: some arrive within a day. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for before releasing it.

If a transfer is late, contact the sending bank about the tracking status; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Keep your transfer receipt until the money has arrived; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

A delayed transfer has to be traced from the sending side on the basis of the transfer details. Request from the sender the payment receipt with the date and reference; that often settles the question quickly.

About this information

This directory draws on public sources and we update it periodically. Banks merge, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Figures such as the number of codes come from our directory.

For any payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Citibank N.a.. Found an error? Tell us through the contact page and we will look into it.

What the XXX in CITIILITXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code has the same eight core characters: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. For Citibank N.a., the 8-character core is CITIILIT.

The full version has a three-character extension for a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office, which is why CITIILITXXX and CITIILIT lead to the same place.

Type the code in one piece, in capitals and without spaces. Copying the code beats typing it by hand, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Citibank N.a.

The best place to find the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. Check it with CITIILIT on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

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

A format check in your banking app merely confirms that the IBAN exists, not that it is the right account. Some banks now compare the payee name with the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. A small test payment is worth it for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

International transfers from Citibank N.a.: the real cost

A bank transfer abroad can cost rather more than the fee suggests. On top of the transfer fee, banks in between may deduct a fee, and when the money changes currency the bank often uses a rate below the real market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest item, and it is easy to miss. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate. The difference is your real conversion cost.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider is cheaper than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. On GoldexPay we compare the amount that arrives across providers, so you can pick the cheapest route. You can always use your account at Citibank N.a. as the source of the money.

Which of the 2 codes of Citibank N.a. do you need?

Having 2 codes, Citibank N.a. is one of the banks that use individual codes for parts of the organisation. The head office code is CITIILITXXX.

In most cases you do not need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to CITIILITXXX are routed within Citibank N.a. without problems. When you receive a specific code, use it as it is rather than replacing it for the head office code.

Not sure which code to use? Check with the recipient. Codes can change over time.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Scammers regularly use payment requests with changed bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. The fact that CITIILIT exists is no guarantee that the account is legitimate; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Always verify changed bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Be suspicious of time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. If a payment was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Recipients can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to send back the difference abroad. Do not act before the money has really arrived and check with Citibank N.a. if anything seems off.