SWIFT/BIC codes in Lithuania

Bank SWIFT codes for Lithuania

This directory covers 142 banks and financial institutions in Lithuania, with 150 SWIFT/BIC codes in total. A BIC tells every bank in the chain which institution should receive an international payment.

Each bank has its own page with the head office code and if there are any, codes for branches and departments. Below the list we explain how a code from Lithuania is put together, how to send money to Lithuania at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

Euro payments to Lithuania: is a BIC needed?

Since Lithuania is in SEPA, a euro transfer to an account in Lithuania usually requires just an IBAN. Many banks no longer ask for the BIC in that case.

You still need a SWIFT code for payments in other currencies or money from outside the SEPA area. Euro payments within SEPA normally land by the next business day. Costs stay low provided everything stays in euros.

Check the code before you pay

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. When the code you were given differs from our list, do not guess.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on publicly available sources. Banks reorganise, change names and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. For a payment of any size, confirm the code with the recipient. We are a comparison service for money transfers, not a bank.

Watch out for invoices containing a new account. Always verify a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had.

What the letters in a Lithuania BIC mean

Every SWIFT/BIC code consists of 8 or 11 characters in a fixed order. Characters one to four stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters form the country code and characters seven and eight mark the location.

For banks in Lithuania, letters five and six show the two-letter ISO code of Lithuania, which makes these codes easy to recognise. If the country letters do not match Lithuania, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else.

The long version ends in three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. Choose a branch code only when the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.

Tracking a payment to Lithuania

There is no single answer for payments to Lithuania: many arrive the same day or the next while others need several business days. Bank holidays in either country add a day or more to the journey.

If a transfer seems delayed, the sender should contact the sending bank and ask for the status or the UETR – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Keep your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.

The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Lithuania pays in the Euro, with the currency code EUR. When you pay another currency, the amount gets converted somewhere along the way.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives. Check what EUR arrives with several providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Exchange rates change during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

Most SWIFT codes in Lithuania: Lietuvos Bankas (Bank of Lithuania)

Among the 142 institutions we list, Lietuvos Bankas (Bank of Lithuania) has the most SWIFT/BIC codes in Lithuania. The head office uses LIABLT2XXXX – the code most transfers need.

Many codes often reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Paying someone at Lietuvos Bankas (Bank of Lithuania)? Use LIABLT2XXXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Lithuania

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for a few details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. In practice that means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your address.

Find the bank in the list on this page to check its code – your bank statement is the final word. Certain banks may also ask for the name and address of your bank.

Expect that the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments vary per bank; check the price list of your bank. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

What a transfer to Lithuania really costs

A bank transfer to Lithuania can cost rather more than the fee suggests. On top of a fixed fee, intermediary banks may take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the biggest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. Check the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares what recipients in Lithuania receive with different providers, so you can pick the cheapest route.