SWIFT/BIC codes in Italy: banks starting with B
3,414 banks and financial institutions in Italy with 26,259 SWIFT/BIC codes in total.
The way a SWIFT/BIC code from Italy is structured
A SWIFT/BIC code has 8 or 11 characters. Each part has a fixed meaning:
- SEAK Bank code
- 4 letters that identify the bank.
- IT Country code
- 2 letters for the country (ISO 3166).
- 21 Location code
- 2 characters for the city or region of the head office.
- XXX Branch code
- 3 characters for a specific branch. XXX means the head office.
SWIFT/BIC codes in Italy
In Italy we have 26259 SWIFT/BIC codes. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain which institution should receive an international payment.
Search for the bank you need in the list and click through for all codes we have. Further down we explain how a code from Italy is put together, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.
The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs
Most accounts in Italy are typically held in EUR. Money sent in a different currency will be converted into EUR – and the bank that does it picks the rate.
Who converts the money makes a difference. Often it is cheaper if you send EUR straight away through a provider that converts near the mid-market rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small difference in the rate adds up quickly.
Banks in Italy beginning with the letter :letter
The letter filter limits the list down to banks from Italy that begin with :letter. The totals mentioned above always cover the whole country and not only this selection.
If a bank does not appear here, check another letter – the registered name can differ from the name people use. Try the full list for Italy when you do not know the exact name.
How reliable is this list?
The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.
We gather bank codes from publicly available data and update our list regularly. Even so, banks merge or retire codes and our data may lag behind. For any payment that matters, check the code with the recipient’s bank. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers.
Fraudsters regularly use payment requests with changed bank details that look completely genuine. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: criminals use real codes too.
Most SWIFT codes in Italy: Unicredit SPA
Of all banks in Italy, Unicredit SPA is listed with the most SWIFT codes. The head office uses UNCRITM1001.
Banks differ in whether they register branch codes, so the count is not a ranking of size. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code UNCRITM1001 works for transfers to this bank.
Tracking a payment to Italy
There is no fixed delivery time for transfers to Italy: many land within a day, others take several business days. Public holidays in either country can add extra days.
Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR. Money transfer services usually show a status online.
SEPA transfers to Italy
Italy is part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), where euro transfers follow common rules. For a regular euro transfer within SEPA, you normally only need the IBAN and the BIC is often filled in automatically.
You will still need a SWIFT code when sending non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day or faster with instant payments. Fees are generally low provided everything stays in euros.
How SWIFT codes from Italy are built
Bank identifier codes follow the same format worldwide: eight characters. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and characters seven and eight mark the location.
For banks in Italy, characters five and six are the two-letter ISO code of Italy. Codes with a different country code come from a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.
An 11-character code ends in a branch code. In most cases the head office code is fine unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.
What a transfer to Italy really costs
If you send money to Italy via your bank, the stated fee is only part of what you pay. On top of the fee, intermediary banks may deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.
The markup on the rate tends to be the largest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: set the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.
Specialist money transfer services frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before your next transfer to Italy, it is worth to compare what arrives on GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.
Receiving money in Italy from abroad
For a transfer from abroad in Italy, the sender needs not just the BIC. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and usually your postal address.
Look up your bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details – your bank statement is the final word. You can add your bank’s name and city.
Expect that the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. On invoices, agree how the fees are split.
Frequently asked questions
How many banks in Italy have a SWIFT/BIC code?
Our directory lists 3,414 banks and financial institutions in Italy that together have 26,259 SWIFT/BIC codes, including branches and departments.
Which bank in Italy has the most SWIFT codes?
The largest number of codes belongs to Unicredit SPA: 3315 in our database. Its head office code is UNCRITM1001.
What is the cheapest way to send money to Italy?
Banks often add a markup to the exchange rate. Compare the amount received in Euro with specialist providers to pay less.
How do I recognise a SWIFT/BIC code from Italy?
Characters 5 and 6 of every SWIFT/BIC code show the country. Codes from Italy contain IT.
How do I find the right SWIFT code for a bank in Italy?
Check the bank details of the recipient or look up the bank in the list on this page. If no branch is specified, the head office code (XXX) is the safe choice.
Source: listbase-org SWIFT/BIC database (MIT licence), updated monthly. Always verify the code with the recipient or their bank.