SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan: banks starting with S

SWIFT/BIC codes in Japan

This overview lists 586 banks and other institutions in Japan. Every code points to a bank or one of its branches, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Every bank is listed with its own page with its main code and if there are any, codes for branches and departments. Further down we explain how a code from Japan is put together, how to send money to Japan without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

International payments to Japan and the BIC

To pay into Japan you usually need the BIC, because the country is outside the SEPA area. Without it, most banks will not process the transfer at all.

In some countries, the account is identified by a local account number rather than an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Check with the recipient which details their bank requires for payments from abroad. On the way to Japan, a transfer may go through correspondent banks that take a fee.

Receiving money in Japan from abroad

For an international payment in Japan, the sender needs not just the BIC. Share your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Look up the bank in the list on this page to check its code. You can include the name and city of your bank as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate applies. For business payments, agree how the fees are split.

The structure of a Japan SWIFT/BIC code

Bank identifier codes follow the same format worldwide: eight characters plus an optional three-character extension. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

Whatever the bank, all Japan codes share the same country code in positions five and six: the ISO code of the country. Codes with a different country code belong to a bank abroad.

When a code ends in XXX, it refers to the head office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. In most cases the head office code is what you need.

How long does a transfer to Japan take?

How quickly a payment reaches Japan depends on several factors: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Payments made 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, the sender should contact the sending bank for a trace. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms; a bank needs it to start a trace.

Filter: banks in Japan with :letter

The letter filter narrows the list down to banks from Japan that begin with :letter. The totals mentioned above always cover the whole country.

Cannot find the bank? The registered name might begin with another word. Try the full list for Japan when you are not sure the exact name.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Japan

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. A wrong code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees, so compare it with the list on this page.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on publicly available sources. Institutions reorganise, close branches and change codes. Treat our data as a starting point rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is not a bank and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Scammers regularly use fake invoices carrying changed bank details from what looks like a familiar address. A valid BIC tells you nothing about who owns the account: criminals use real codes too.

Which bank in Japan has the most codes?

Of the 586 banks in Japan, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The is listed with the most codes. Its head office code is BOTKJPJTXXX – the code most transfers need.

A large number of codes often means separate codes for branches, departments or services, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Making a payment to Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ufj, LTD., The? Use BOTKJPJTXXX unless a specific branch code is requested.

Sending JPY to Japan

The national currency of Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). A payment in a foreign currency will be exchanged into JPY on its way to the recipient.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. In many cases you pay less to send JPY straight away via a transfer service with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Exchange rates move during the day.

What a transfer to Japan really costs

If you transfer money to Japan through a regular bank, the fee you see is only part of the cost. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent banks can deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank usually applies a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Check the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites. The difference is your real cost.

Specialised transfer providers frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before you send money to Japan, it is worth to compare the total cost on GoldexPay.