SWIFT/BIC codes in Italy: banks starting with K

Finding a SWIFT code in Italy

In Italy we have 26259 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 3414 institutions. You need such a code mostly for payments across borders, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Look for the bank you need in the list and open its page to see all codes we have and the details a transfer needs. The rest of this page explain the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing before a payment.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Italy

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

The code of your bank appears in our list. Some sending banks may also ask for the name and address of your bank, so keep it at hand.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank; check the price list of your bank. For business payments, agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

Paying in euros to Italy

Since Italy is in the SEPA zone, a euro payment to an account in Italy normally requires just the IBAN. Most banking apps no longer ask for the BIC for these payments.

The BIC still matter for payments in other currencies. Instant payments in euros have become widely supported across SEPA, though not every bank offers them for every account. Costs stay low provided everything stays in euros; the conversion is where it gets expensive.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Italy

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. It starts with four letters for the bank, followed by a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

For banks in Italy, characters five and six are the two-letter ISO code of Italy. Codes with other letters in that position come from another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The long version adds a branch code – XXX stands for the head office. Choose a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one.

Tracking a payment to Italy

An international transfer to Italy typically needs one to a few business days. Public holidays in Italy or in the sending country add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

If the money is late, ask the sender to contact their own bank. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees – compare it with the code in our list.

We collect bank codes from public sources and update our list regularly. Banks merge, change names and retire codes. Treat this list as a reference: the bank details from the recipient come first. We are a comparison service, not a bank.

Fraudsters often use payment requests with changed bank details. Before paying, confirm changed details by phone, using a number you already had.

Sending EUR to Italy

Bank accounts in Italy are usually held in EUR, the local currency. When you pay money in a different currency, the amount has to be converted somewhere along the way.

Who converts the payment matters. In many cases it is cheaper to send EUR directly through a provider that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. On larger amounts, even a small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

What a transfer to Italy really costs

If you send money to Italy via a regular bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. Besides the fee, intermediary banks can take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest part of the cost because it is hidden in the rate. A simple test: put the offered rate against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in Italy with different services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

SWIFT codes in Italy: banks under :letter

This list only shows banks in Italy beginning with :letter. The totals mentioned above always cover all banks in Italy and not only this selection.

Bank not listed? The registered name might start with a different letter – think of the full legal name instead of the brand. The full overview for Italy is available when the letter filter does not help.

The largest SWIFT network in Italy: Unicredit SPA

Of all banks in Italy, Unicredit SPA is listed with the most codes. The head office uses UNCRITM1001 – the code most transfers need.

Practice differs in whether they register branch codes – a high count is not a measure of size. If not a branch code is given, UNCRITM1001 is fine for a payment to Unicredit SPA.