Bank of Japan SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Bank of Japan

If an invoice shows BOJPJPJT or BOJPJPJTXXX, you are looking at the same identifier for Bank of Japan in Japan. The code does one job: it ensures that a cross-border transfer reaches the right bank. In practice you mostly come across it on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details of Bank of Japan customers.

Below you will find the practical questions: receiving money at Bank of Japan, sending money abroad and how to verify the code before you hit send. Keep in mind that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the person: the IBAN or account number does that part.

When will the money arrive at Bank of Japan?

There is no single answer: many land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday often start the next business day. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments may also add a delay.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each payment gets a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Money transfer services often provide a status in their app so you can see where the money has got.

If the money does not arrive after a few business days, the sender needs to start with their own bank, not the receiving bank. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation; that often settles the question quickly.

Why Bank of Japan has an 8- and an 11-character code

A SWIFT code is made up of fixed blocks: characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six give the country and the two after that mark the location. Together, these eight characters make up BOJPJPJT – the version you usually see online.

The full version has a three-character extension for a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, they simply mean the head office.

Type the code in one piece, in capitals and without separators, exactly as shown here. A wrong letter may route a payment to another bank, so copy it carefully.

Receiving money from abroad at Bank of Japan

A sender in another country needs several details about your account. The basics are: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, BOJPJPJTXXX and often your postal address.

Some banks also ask for the bank’s address in Tokyo, so keep it at hand. A mistake in your account number is more trouble than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

The amount you receive is often less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank – the price list of Bank of Japan tells you what applies. For business payments, you can agree who bears the costs.

Which of the 3 codes of Bank of Japan do you need?

With 3 codes, Bank of Japan belongs to the banks that register separate codes for branches and departments. The head office code is BOJPJPJTXXX.

In most cases there is no need to pick a branch: payments sent to BOJPJPJTXXX are routed within Bank of Japan without problems. Only use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code.

The safest route is to copy the code directly from the recipient’s statement. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than BOJPJPJTXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Paying someone abroad from your Bank of Japan account

A bank transfer abroad costs more than the fee suggests. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can deduct a fee, and if currencies are converted the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest cost even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay lists these services next to each other so you can see the amount the recipient gets before you commit. Choosing a specialist does not mean closing your account at Bank of Japan: you simply pay the service from your account.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Bank of Japan

The best place to find the right code is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. Check that code with BOJPJPJT on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees. A mistake in the account number is a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person, so check that just as carefully.

An automatic check by your bank merely confirms that the IBAN exists. Some banks now compare the payee name against the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. A small test payment can be a sensible step for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Stay wary if someone unexpectedly wants you to send money to another account. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers simply use real codes.

Before paying, verify changed bank details by phone on a number you know, not one from the message. Pressure or secrecy are warning signs. Acted too fast? Call the bank you paid from without delay and ask them to try to recall the payment.

Recipients can be targeted as well: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference to another account. Do not act before the money is actually in your account – ask Bank of Japan if something looks wrong.

The Japanese Yen and what conversion costs you

The local currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into JPY on its way to Bank of Japan, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. Every conversion costs the amount.

Which bank converts the payment matters. In many cases you pay less if you send JPY directly via a provider that converts near the mid-market rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

The rate for JPY changes constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. On larger amounts, a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

How up to date is this code?

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes from publicly available data and update them from time to time. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Counts and locations are from our directory and may differ from what Bank of Japan publishes.

Treat our directory on this page as a handy check, and let the details from the recipient or Bank of Japan have the final say. GoldexPay is independent of Bank of Japan, we only compare transfer services. Spotted outdated information? Let us know through the contact page so we can correct it.