Central Bank of Malta SWIFT/BIC code

Central Bank of Malta SWIFT code: MALTMTMT

MALTMTMT and MALTMTMTXXX are two spellings of the same bank identifier, and both lead to Central Bank of Malta in Valletta. Banks worldwide use these codes to route payments between countries to the correct institution. It comes up mostly when dealing with transfers between countries.

On this page we explain how the code means, when it matters and which other details a transfer to or from Central Bank of Malta requires. Remember that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the person: the IBAN or account number does that part.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We collect bank codes using public sources and check our list from time to time. It can happen that information here is out of date after a merger or reorganisation. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory and not on information from Central Bank of Malta itself.

Treat our data as a reference, rather than as the final word. GoldexPay is a comparison site and not part of Central Bank of Malta. Should you notice a mistake, we welcome a short note via the contact page.

Sending money abroad from Central Bank of Malta

A bank transfer abroad costs more than the listed fee. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies are converted, the bank often uses a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest item even though it is not listed as a fee. Check their rate with the mid-market rate.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives across providers, so you can pick the cheapest route. Choosing a specialist does not require leaving Central Bank of Malta: you simply pay the service from your account.

How long does an international transfer to Central Bank of Malta take?

An international transfer typically takes one to a few business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday often go out the next business day. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also cause a delay, even when all details are correct.

If a transfer is delayed, contact your bank about the status or the UETR; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Money transfer services usually provide a status online showing where the money is.

A delayed transfer has to be traced from the sending side on the basis of the transfer details. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation; that often settles the question quickly.

Paying Central Bank of Malta in euros within SEPA

Inside SEPA, euro payments to Central Bank of Malta use the same rules and in most cases need only the IBAN. A field for the BIC is often optional for those payments.

For anything other than euros and for senders outside SEPA, MALTMTMTXXX is still part of the payment details. If a payment form asks for the BIC regardless, entering MALTMTMT does no harm.

Instant payments in euros are increasingly available across SEPA – whether Central Bank of Malta offers them for your account is worth checking. As long as the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer tends to be inexpensive; it is the conversion that costs money.

Sending EUR to Central Bank of Malta

The currency in Malta is the Euro (EUR). When you pay another currency it has to be converted at some point. Each conversion costs the amount.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives. Often it is cheaper to send EUR straight away through a transfer service with a good rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

Exchange rates change all the time – some services let you fix a rate in advance. If you pay regularly, small differences in the rate add up over time.

Getting paid from abroad into a Central Bank of Malta account

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. What they need is: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, MALTMTMTXXX or MALTMTMT and, for some countries, your postal address.

Their bank might request the bank address of Central Bank of Malta, in which case the Valletta head office is the usual answer. A mistake in the IBAN can be more trouble than it looks, so copy the details from your online banking.

Money from abroad does not always land in full. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank. On invoices, you can agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Be alert if a contact suddenly asks you to send money to a different account abroad. The fact that MALTMTMT exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is legitimate; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Before paying, verify a change of bank details by phone. Watch out for time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. When a payment was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Recipients are targeted too: a classic trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to send back the difference to another account. Wait until the money has really arrived and check with Central Bank of Malta if anything seems off.

What the XXX in MALTMTMTXXX means

The layout of every SWIFT code never changes: four characters for the institution, two for the country and two for the location. For Central Bank of Malta, the 8-character core is MALTMTMT.

Most banks and apps accept either length. If a form asks for eleven characters, use MALTMTMTXXX; if it wants eight, use MALTMTMT.

Leave out spaces when you enter MALTMTMT. Pasting the code is safer than typing it by hand, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Central Bank of Malta

Central Bank of Malta uses 2 different SWIFT/BIC codes. One of them is the head office code; the rest identify branches or departments.

Usually there is no need to pick a branch: payments addressed to MALTMTMTXXX reach Central Bank of Malta without problems. Only use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code, for example on a letter or invoice.

Not sure which code applies? Ask the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Central Bank of Malta. Codes for branches are more prone to change than MALTMTMTXXX.

How to check MALTMTMT before you pay

The safest source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. Compare it against MALTMTMT here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or extra fees. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person, so check that just as carefully.

An automatic check by your bank merely confirms that the IBAN exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. Some banks now compare the name with the account before you confirm. A small test payment can be worth it for large sums.