SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan: banks starting with B

Finding a SWIFT code in Japan

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 586 institutions in Japan, 712 codes in all. A BIC tells every bank in the chain which institution is meant to get an international payment.

Search for the recipient’s bank below and open its page for the full list of codes and what else a transfer requires. The rest of this page covers how the codes work, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing before a payment.

Paying in JPY: what conversion costs you

The local currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). A payment in a foreign currency will be exchanged into JPY – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Who converts the money matters, because each party uses its own rate. Check what JPY arrives via different providers. On larger amounts, even a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

How long does a transfer to Japan take?

There is no single delivery time for transfers to Japan: many land the same day or the next. Bank holidays in either country add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status online so you can follow the payment.

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The and its SWIFT codes

Of the 586 banks we list for Japan, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The is listed with the largest number of SWIFT codes. Its head office code is BOTKJPJTXXX.

A large number of codes usually reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. Making a payment to Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The? Go with BOTKJPJTXXX except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

Bank or transfer service for Japan?

If you send money to Japan with a regular bank, the fee you see is rarely all of the cost. There is a transfer fee, possibly fees from correspondent banks and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

Specialised transfer providers frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other, showing the amount that reaches the recipient.

The structure of a Japan SWIFT/BIC code

Bank identifier codes follow the same format worldwide: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six are the country code and characters seven and eight mark the location.

Whatever the bank, all Japan codes have the same country code in positions five and six: the ISO code of the country. When the country letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else, so check again.

The last three characters, if present, identify a specific branch; XXX means the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Why a transfer to Japan needs a SWIFT code

Since Japan does not belong to SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent as a SWIFT payment. This means you always need the BIC of the recipient’s bank.

Not all countries use IBAN numbers; in that case the local account number is used instead. The receiving bank often has a list of required details for payments from abroad, and it is worth following them to the letter. SWIFT payments sometimes go via one or more intermediary banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

Check the code before you pay

The most reliable place for the right code remains a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. If the code you have does not match our list, do not guess: check with the recipient or the bank.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and update them from time to time. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. Use this list as a reference rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Watch out for payment requests with changed bank details, especially when they come by email. Always confirm a change of bank details by phone on a number you know.

Incoming international payments in Japan

For a transfer from abroad into a Japan account, the sender has to have more than the SWIFT code. That means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your postal address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page but always compare it with your own bank details. Some sending banks also ask for the name and address of your bank.

What lands in your account can be less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank; check the price list of your bank. On invoices, agree who bears the costs.

Banks in Japan starting with :letter

You are looking at a selection: only banks in Japan with a name starting with :letter. The figures for Japan on this page cover all 586 banks.

Some banks appear under their official name, so the letter can differ from what you expect. Use the full list for Japan when you are not sure how the name is spelled.