HSBC Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

What MIDLJEH1 means for a payment to HSBC Bank PLC

The short code MIDLJEH1 and the 11-character code MIDLJEH1XXX refer to the same bank: HSBC Bank PLC. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to route international transfers to the correct institution. It comes up mainly for payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

Below we go through the practical side: money coming in from abroad, paying someone in another country and how to check the code before you hit send. The SWIFT code alone cannot identify an individual account holder; for that you need the account number or IBAN is for.

Paying someone abroad from your HSBC Bank PLC account

An international bank payment can cost more than the fee suggests. You pay the transfer fee, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the exchange rate markup.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee: the bank converts at a rate with a margin built in. An easy check: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Money transfer services frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate. Next time you send money, take a minute comparing what arrives via GoldexPay. Choosing a specialist does not mean leaving HSBC Bank PLC.

8 or 11 characters: MIDLJEH1 versus MIDLJEH1XXX

The structure of every SWIFT code never changes: a bank code of four letters, a two-letter country code and two for the location. In this case, that core is MIDLJEH1.

XXX at the end of MIDLJEH1XXX is not a missing value or an error: it stands for the head office of HSBC Bank PLC. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, in which case you can add XXX after MIDLJEH1.

As a rule the code is written in capitals, without spaces or dashes. Copying the code is safer than retyping it, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Is MIDLJEH1 still correct? How to check

Ask the recipient to send you their account details straight from their online banking. Check it against MIDLJEH1 here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

If the code is wrong, the transfer might get stuck, be returned or end up costing more – sometimes after weeks of searching. Remember the account number: an error there is more difficult to correct than a wrong BIC.

A format check in your banking app merely confirms that the IBAN exists. If your bank offers it, a payee name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. A small test payment can be worth it for large sums despite the extra fee.

Getting paid from abroad into a HSBC Bank PLC account

When you expect money from abroad, send the payer a complete set of details. What they need is: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, MIDLJEH1XXX and, for some countries, your home address.

Certain banks also ask for the bank’s address in St. Helier; it does no harm to include it. A mistake in your account number is harder to fix than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

HSBC Bank PLC: head office code versus branch codes

HSBC Bank PLC uses 4 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 cities. Only one is the head office code, MIDLJEH1XXX; the others belong to branches.

In most cases there is no need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to MIDLJEH1XXX reach HSBC Bank PLC correctly. Only use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

The best way is to take the code straight from the recipient’s statement. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

About this information

The details here come from public sources which we refresh regularly. It can happen that information here is no longer current, for example after a merger. Figures such as the number of codes are from our directory.

Treat this page as a reference, rather than as the final word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers and not affiliated with HSBC Bank PLC. Spotted an error? Let us know via our contact form.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Criminals often use payment requests with changed bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Always confirm changed bank details through a phone call, using a number you already had. Pressure or secrecy tend to be red flags. When a payment has already gone to the wrong account, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference to another account. Wait until the money is actually in your account – ask HSBC Bank PLC if something looks wrong.

British Pound (GBP) and conversion costs

The national currency in Jersey is the British Pound (GBP). A payment in a foreign currency will be exchanged into GBP. There is rarely a separate line for the conversion.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Transferring the money directly in GBP often prevents a second conversion.

Rates for GBP move all the time – some services let you fix a rate in advance. For recurring payments, small differences in the rate make a real difference over a year.

Tracking a transfer to or from HSBC Bank PLC

How quickly a transfer arrives at HSBC Bank PLC is determined by a few things: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and time zones. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment, which can hold things up.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services usually provide a status online showing how far the money is.

A missing payment is investigated from the sending side. On the receiving end, it helps to look at your statements to see a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.