SWIFT/BIC codes in Italy: banks starting with C

SWIFT/BIC codes in Italy

Our directory contains 3414 banks and financial institutions in Italy and 26259 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. A BIC tells the banks handling a transfer which institution should receive the money.

Search for the bank you need below and open its page for the full list of codes and what else a transfer requires. The rest of this page explain the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes.

Incoming international payments in Italy

A sender in another country will ask for several details about your account. Give them your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Find the bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details – your bank statement is the final word. Some banks also ask for your bank’s address.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank. On invoices, state who bears the costs, so nobody is left short.

When does money sent to Italy arrive?

How fast money arrives in Italy depends on several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often go out a business day later.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact the sending bank – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms.

Which bank in Italy has the most codes?

Unicredit SPA tops our list for Italy in SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Unicredit SPA has UNCRITM1001 and that code covers most payments.

Many codes often reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Paying someone at Unicredit SPA? Use UNCRITM1001 except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

Paying in euros to Italy

Because Italy is in the SEPA zone, a euro payment to an account in Italy normally only needs an IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC in that case.

You will still need the BIC when sending non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day. Costs stay low as long as everything stays in euros.

The cheapest way to send money to Italy

What you pay for a transfer to Italy has more than one component. On top of a fixed fee, intermediary banks may take a cut, and when the money is converted the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest part of the cost because it is hidden in the rate. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate. The difference is your real cost.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Before you send money to Italy, it is worth comparing the total cost via GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Italy

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. Characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six form the country code and the next two mark the location.

No matter which bank, every code from Italy share the same fifth and sixth letters. Codes with other letters in that position belong to another country.

If the last three are XXX, it refers to the head office. Use a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Italy and the Euro

Most accounts in Italy are usually held in EUR – the Euro. If you send another currency, the amount gets converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference, because each party uses its own rate. Often you pay less to send EUR directly through a transfer service with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. On larger amounts, a seemingly small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Italy

Have the recipient copy the account details straight from their banking app. A wrong code can cause delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

This list is based on public sources that we update periodically. Institutions merge, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Before any payment that matters, confirm the code with the recipient’s bank. We are a comparison site for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Scammers regularly use payment requests with new bank details from what looks like a familiar address. Always verify a change of bank details through a separate channel on a number you know.

Banks in Italy starting with :letter

Here you see a selection: just banks in Italy whose name begins with :letter. The figures for Italy on this page apply to every bank we list, not just the ones under :letter.

Cannot find the bank? The registered name might begin with another word – think of the full legal name instead of the brand. Try the full list for Italy if you do not know the exact name.