SWIFT/BIC codes in Luxembourg: banks starting with G

SWIFT/BIC codes in Luxembourg

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 494 institutions in Luxembourg, 1051 codes in all. You need such a code mainly when making payments across borders, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Each bank is listed with its own page with the head office code and if there are any, codes for branches and departments. The rest of this page explain the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and how to avoid mistakes before you send money.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Luxembourg

To receive a transfer from abroad into a Luxembourg account, the person paying you needs not just the SWIFT code. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and usually your address.

Look up the bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details. Some banks also ask for the name and address of your bank.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin applies. On invoices, agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

Paying in EUR: what conversion costs you

Luxembourg pays in the Euro, code EUR. If you send money in a different currency, the amount gets converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Who converts the money makes a difference. In many cases it is cheaper if you send EUR straight away through a provider with a good rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Check the code before you pay

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or additional charges.

The directory on GoldexPay is based on public sources. Banks merge, close branches and change codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. For a payment that matters, confirm the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is a comparison service, not a bank.

Be wary of payment requests with a new account, especially when they come by email. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.

SWIFT codes in Luxembourg: banks under :letter

This filter narrows the list to banks from Luxembourg that begin with :letter, so you can find a bank faster. The counts in the introduction always cover the whole country.

If the bank you need does not appear under :letter, try another letter. Try the full list for Luxembourg when you do not know how the name is spelled.

What the letters in a Luxembourg BIC mean

SWIFT/BIC codes use the same format worldwide: 8 characters. Characters one to four identify the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

In every code from Luxembourg, letters five and six show the ISO country code of Luxembourg. A code with other letters in that position belong to another country, even if the bank name looks familiar.

An 11-character code adds three characters for a branch. Use a branch code just if the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.

The largest SWIFT network in Luxembourg: BNP Paribas Securities Services

Of all banks in Luxembourg, BNP Paribas Securities Services is listed with the most SWIFT codes. Its head office code is PARBLU21XXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

Banks differ in how many codes they register, so the count is not a ranking of size. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code PARBLU21XXX works for a payment to BNP Paribas Securities Services.

How long does a transfer to Luxembourg take?

A SWIFT payment to Luxembourg typically needs one to a few business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often start a business day later.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Sending money to Luxembourg for less

An international bank payment to Luxembourg often costs more than the fee suggests. On top of the fee, intermediary banks can deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank usually applies a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay compares what recipients in Luxembourg receive across services.

SEPA transfers to Luxembourg

Since Luxembourg is in SEPA, a euro transfer to a bank in Luxembourg usually only needs an IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC for these payments.

A SWIFT code still matter when the currency is not euros and when the money comes from outside SEPA. Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive within one business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Provided no conversion is involved, the transfer tends to be inexpensive.