SWIFT/BIC codes in Macao SAR China

SWIFT/BIC codes in Macao SAR China

This directory covers 30 banks and other institutions in Macao SAR China, with 33 SWIFT/BIC codes in total. Each code identifies an institution or a specific branch or department and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Look for the bank you need below and click through to see the full list of codes and what else a transfer requires. The rest of this page covers the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing before a payment.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Macao SAR China

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details about your account. Share your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

Your bank’s code appears in the list on this page. It helps to include your bank’s name and city as well.

What lands in your account is often lower than what was sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. If the code you have does not match our list, do not guess.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on public sources that we update periodically. Institutions merge, close branches and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Before a payment of any size, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Watch out for payment requests containing a new account. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: criminals use real codes too.

How SWIFT codes from Macao SAR China are built

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. It starts with four letters for the bank, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

For banks in Macao SAR China, letters five and six show the ISO country code of Macao SAR China, which makes these codes easy to recognise. Codes with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

The long version adds a branch code, where XXX means the head office. Choose a branch code only if the recipient explicitly gives you one.

When does money sent to Macao SAR China arrive?

An international transfer to Macao SAR China usually takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Transfers sent late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday usually start a business day later.

If the money seems delayed, ask the sender to contact their own bank – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Money transfer services usually provide a status online so you can follow the payment.

Sending money to Macao SAR China for less

An international bank payment to Macao SAR China can cost rather more than the fee suggests. You pay a transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. A simple test: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before you send money to Macao SAR China, take a minute comparing what arrives on GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.

International payments to Macao SAR China and the BIC

To pay into Macao SAR China you will almost always need a SWIFT/BIC code – Macao SAR China is not a SEPA country. Without it, most banks cannot process the payment.

Not every country uses the IBAN; in that case the local account number is used instead. The recipient’s bank usually has a list of required details for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. Before it arrives, a transfer may go through intermediary banks.

Bank of China, Macau Branch and its SWIFT codes

Among the 30 institutions we list, Bank of China, Macau Branch holds the most SWIFT/BIC codes in Macao SAR China. The head office uses BKCHMOMXXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

Many codes usually reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services. Making a payment to Bank of China, Macau Branch? Use BKCHMOMXXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.