BNP Paribas Securities Services SWIFT/BIC code

What PARBLU21 means for a payment to BNP Paribas Securities Services

The short code PARBLU21 and the full code PARBLU21XXX refer to one and the same institution: BNP Paribas Securities Services in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to direct payments between countries to the right bank. It comes up mainly for transfers between countries or a currency.

Further down we go through the practical questions: money coming in from abroad, sending money abroad and how to verify a SWIFT code before you hit send. Remember that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the account: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

Paying BNP Paribas Securities Services in euros within SEPA

Luxembourg belongs to the SEPA area, where euro transfers follow common rules. When you send euros within SEPA, you normally only need the IBAN and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

Outside the euro and from non-SEPA countries, PARBLU21XXX or PARBLU21 is still required. A few banks and apps still show a field for the BIC; if so, fill in PARBLU21 or PARBLU21XXX.

SEPA transfers normally land by the next business day. As long as no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer tends to be inexpensive.

Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Accounts at BNP Paribas Securities Services are typically held in EUR, the national currency. Money sent in a different currency is converted into EUR on its way to BNP Paribas Securities Services, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate line for the conversion.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives. Sending the amount directly in EUR usually prevents an extra conversion at the receiving end – as long as your own rate is good.

Rates for EUR move all the time, and some providers let you lock in a rate. With bigger transfers, even small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

International transfers from BNP Paribas Securities Services: the real cost

A bank transfer abroad can cost rather more than the listed fee. Besides a fixed fee, banks in between can take a cut, and when the money changes currency the bank often uses a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

Many banks rarely show their exchange rate markup separately – you only notice it if you compare. A simple test: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. Before your next transfer, it is worth comparing the total cost via GoldexPay. You can always keep your account at BNP Paribas Securities Services; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Watch out for payment fraud

Fraudsters regularly send fake invoices containing new bank details. The fact that PARBLU21 exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Do not rely on contact details from the same email that announces the new account. Urgency or secrecy are warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If a payment was sent to the wrong account, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Fraud can also target the receiver: someone claims to have sent more than agreed and wants you to refund the difference to a new account. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing.

How to check PARBLU21 before you pay

The best place to find the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. If the code you have does not match PARBLU21 or PARBLU21XXX, stop and ask.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to delays, a returned payment or extra fees for investigation. A mistake in the account number can be more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else.

Many banking apps check the format of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically. Some banks now compare the payee name against the account. For a first payment, many people start with a small amount first before sending the rest.

Why BNP Paribas Securities Services has an 8- and an 11-character code

Every SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. In this case, the 8-character core is PARBLU21.

Many banks and apps accept either length. If a form asks for eleven characters, enter PARBLU21XXX.

As a rule the code is typed in capitals. Watch for O versus 0 and the letter I and the digit 1.

Receiving money from abroad at BNP Paribas Securities Services

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs several details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. What they need is: your name, IBAN or account number, PARBLU21XXX and often your postal address.

The sender’s bank may also ask for the address of your bank, in which case the Luxembourg head office is the usual answer. Double-check the details before you send them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Correspondent banks can take a fee, BNP Paribas Securities Services may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

How up to date is this code?

Our SWIFT/BIC directory draws on publicly available sources. It is possible that information here is no longer current. The figures on this page reflect what is in our directory and not on information from BNP Paribas Securities Services itself.

Treat our directory on this page as a handy check and rely on the recipient or BNP Paribas Securities Services for the final confirmation. We are a comparison site and not affiliated with BNP Paribas Securities Services. Spotted outdated information? Tell us via our contact form.

Head office or branch code at BNP Paribas Securities Services?

BNP Paribas Securities Services uses 197 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 locations. One of them is the head office code; the rest belong to branches, and sometimes internal departments.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, go with PARBLU21XXX or its short form PARBLU21. If you have been given a branch code, use it as it is rather than swapping it for the head office code.

Not sure which code applies? Check with the recipient or the bank itself. Branch codes are more likely to be retired than the head office code.

When will the money arrive at BNP Paribas Securities Services?

A SWIFT payment typically needs one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Payments made late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually start a business day later. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also add a delay, regardless of the details.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank for the status and the transaction reference; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived.

A missing payment has to be investigated by the sending bank on the basis of the transfer details. On the receiving end, you can check your statements to see a slightly lower amount.