Bank of Latvia SWIFT/BIC code

What LACBLV2X means for a payment to Bank of Latvia

LACBLV2X and LACBLV2XXXX are two ways of writing the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both lead to Bank of Latvia in Riga. A BIC has a single purpose: it makes sure that a cross-border transfer reaches the right bank. It comes up mainly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

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 on its own does not identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

Bank of Latvia: head office code versus branch codes

Our directory lists 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for Bank of Latvia. Besides the head office code LACBLV2XXXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

For most incoming transfers, the head office code LACBLV2XXXX works fine. Just use a branch code when your contact explicitly asks for it.

Unsure which code to use? Ask the recipient. Codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

What a transfer from Bank of Latvia abroad really costs

A bank transfer abroad costs more than the fee suggests. You pay the fee for the transfer itself, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the exchange rate markup.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest item because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares transfer providers next to each other, showing what actually arrives. Choosing a specialist does not require closing your account at Bank of Latvia – you pay the provider from your own account.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Bank of Latvia

Ask the recipient to send you their bank details directly from their banking app. Check that code with LACBLV2X on this page.

With a wrong code, the transfer may get stuck, bounce back or end up costing more. An error in the account number can be more serious.

An automatic check by your bank merely confirms that the IBAN is valid, not that it is the right account. If your bank offers it, a name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. When you pay someone new, many people send a small amount first.

Sending EUR to Bank of Latvia

Accounts at Bank of Latvia are typically held in EUR, the national currency. If you send money in a different currency, the amount gets converted at some point – by your bank, by Bank of Latvia or by a bank in between. You rarely see a separate charge for that conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Who converts the payment matters. Transferring the money already in EUR usually prevents a second conversion by Bank of Latvia.

Rates for EUR move all the time. With bigger transfers, a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

One of the most common tricks works like this: you receive a message saying that a supplier has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Always verify changed bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Watch out for time pressure, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. When money was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams can also work the other way: someone claims to have sent too much and asks you to return the difference. Do not act before the money has really arrived.

8 or 11 characters: LACBLV2X versus LACBLV2XXXX

A SWIFT code is made up of a few fixed parts: characters one to four identify the bank, the next two give the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. For Bank of Latvia, that core is LACBLV2X.

The long version has a three-character extension for a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, the code points to the head office, so LACBLV2XXXX and LACBLV2X are interchangeable.

Do not add spaces, dots when you enter LACBLV2X. Pasting the code beats retyping it.

About this information

The details on this page are taken from publicly available data. Institutions merge, change names and retire codes. Counts and locations come from our own dataset and are not confirmed by Bank of Latvia.

Before any payment that matters, check the code with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. GoldexPay has no connection to Bank of Latvia. If you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a message.

How long does an international transfer to Bank of Latvia take?

A SWIFT payment usually needs one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Transfers sent late in the day or just before weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know what the payment is for before releasing it.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank for the status or the UETR; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms.

The bank that sent the money can start an official trace or a recall; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. Request from the sender the payment receipt including the reference; that often settles the question quickly.

Do you need LACBLV2X for a SEPA transfer?

Within the SEPA zone, euro payments to Bank of Latvia use common rules and in most cases need only the IBAN. A field for the BIC is usually optional or missing for those payments.

Outside the euro and for senders outside SEPA, LACBLV2XXXX is still required. Some banks and apps also show a field for the BIC; in that case, enter LACBLV2X.

Instant payments in euros are widely available within SEPA; check with Bank of Latvia whether it applies to your account. As long as no currency is converted, the transfer tends to be inexpensive.

Getting paid from abroad into a Bank of Latvia account

When you are waiting for a payment from another country, send the payer everything they need in one go. That means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code LACBLV2XXXX (or LACBLV2X) and usually your address.

The sender’s bank might also ask for the bank address of Bank of Latvia, in which case the Riga head office is the usual answer. Double-check the details before you share them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, a markup on the rate comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.