First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) SWIFT/BIC code

First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) SWIFT code: NBADKWKW

The short code NBADKWKW and the 11-character code NBADKWKWXXX refer to the same bank: First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi). Banks worldwide use BIC codes to direct payments between countries to the correct institution. It comes up mostly when dealing with transfers between countries and payments in foreign currencies.

Below you will find the practical side: money coming in from abroad, paying someone in another country and how to check a SWIFT code before you hit send. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify an individual account holder; that is what the account number or IBAN is for.

When will the money arrive at First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi)?

A SWIFT payment usually needs anywhere from one to several business days. Bank holidays in either country add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for, which can hold things up.

If the money is late, contact the sending bank for the status so they can trace it along the chain. Specialist transfer services often provide a status online showing how far the payment is.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the sender needs to contact their own bank. Request from the sender the payment receipt including the reference – it helps your own bank look for the money.

Sending money abroad from First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi)

The price of a payment abroad is made up of more than one component – not just the fee on your screen. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if currencies are converted the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee: many banks convert using an exchange rate that includes a margin. A simple test: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service is cheaper than a bank. Before your next transfer, take a minute comparing what arrives via GoldexPay. Choosing a specialist does not mean closing your account at First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) – you pay the provider from your own account.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The directory on GoldexPay is based on public sources. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset and are not confirmed by First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi).

Before a payment of any size, always check the BIC with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. We are a comparison site and not part of First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi). Found outdated information? Tell us via our contact form.

Which of the 2 codes of First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) do you need?

Our database contains 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) in 1 places. Besides the head office code NBADKWKWXXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with NBADKWKWXXX. Only use a branch code when the account holder explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

The safest approach is to take the code straight from the recipient’s bank details. Codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Watch out for payment fraud

Fraudsters regularly use fake invoices with new bank details. That NBADKWKW is a real code does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine.

Verify changed bank details through a different channel, such as a phone number you already know, never via the email that asked for the change. Urgency or requests to keep it quiet are red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. Acted too fast? Call your bank straight away and have them try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

Scams can also work the other way. Someone sends too much and wants you to return the extra. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof – check your own account.

Getting paid from abroad into a First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) account

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC NBADKWKWXXX and your address, which some banks require.

You can include First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) and Safat too, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A mistake in the IBAN can be 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 vary from bank to bank – the price list of First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) tells you what applies. For business payments, you can agree how the fees are split.

Verifying the SWIFT code of First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi)

The best place to find the correct BIC is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. When the code you were given differs from NBADKWKW or NBADKWKWXXX, stop and ask – contact the recipient or First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi).

With a wrong code, the payment might get stuck, bounce back or cost extra, and tracing it can take weeks. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else; check it just as carefully.

A format check in your banking app only tells you that the code is valid. More and more banks check the payee name against the account before you confirm; take any warning seriously. For a first payment, many people start with a small test amount and wait for confirmation.

Why First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi) has an 8- and an 11-character code

A SWIFT code is made up of a few fixed parts: the first four letters identify the bank, the next two show the country and the two after that indicate the location. The result is NBADKWKW for First Abu Dhabi Bank (Formerly National Bank of Abu Dhabi).

Many banks and apps work with both lengths. If yours requires eleven characters, use NBADKWKWXXX, otherwise NBADKWKW is fine.

Leave out spaces, dots when you enter NBADKWKW. Copying the code is safer than typing it by hand.