SWIFT/BIC codes in Montenegro

SWIFT/BIC codes in Montenegro

For Montenegro our database holds 18 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 18 banks. Every code points to an institution or a specific branch or department and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Choose the bank below to view its head office code and any branch codes. Further down you can read how codes from Montenegro are built, how to send money to Montenegro at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

How SWIFT codes from Montenegro are built

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. First comes four letters for the bank, then a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

You can recognise a bank code from Montenegro from the fifth and sixth characters: they always show the ISO country code of Montenegro. Codes with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

The optional last three characters stand for a specific branch; XXX is used for the head office. For most transfers the head office code is fine, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

International payments to Montenegro and the BIC

To pay into Montenegro you almost always need the BIC – Montenegro is not a SEPA country. Without it, most banks will not process the transfer at all.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN. The recipient’s bank usually has a list of required details for incoming international payments, and it is worth following them to the letter. Before it arrives, a transfer can go through correspondent banks that take a fee.

Incoming international payments in Montenegro

To receive an international payment in Montenegro, the person paying you has to have not just the SWIFT code. That means: your full name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and, often, your address.

Your bank’s code appears in the list on this page. You can include your bank’s name and city as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

What lands in your account is often lower than what was sent. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank; check the price list of your bank. Agree with the sender who pays which costs.

When does money sent to Montenegro arrive?

How quickly a payment arrives in Montenegro depends on several factors: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Transfers sent late in the day or on weekends and holidays usually start the next business day.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR. Money transfer services usually provide a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Sending money to Montenegro for less

If you send money to Montenegro through your bank, the stated fee is only part of what you pay. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. Check the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites.

For many routes, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. Before you send money to Montenegro, it is worth comparing what arrives via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

Sending EUR to Montenegro

Montenegro uses the Euro. Money sent in a different currency is converted into EUR on its way to the recipient, and whoever converts it chooses the rate.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Check how much EUR the recipient gets via several providers before choosing one. Exchange rates move all the time – some providers let you lock in a rate.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Montenegro

Have the recipient copy their bank details straight from a recent statement. An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a returned payment or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Institutions reorganise, change names and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. Treat this list as a starting point rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. We are a comparison site for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Scammers often send fake invoices carrying new bank details. Always confirm changed details by phone.

Most SWIFT codes in Montenegro: Addiko Bank A.d. Podgorica

In our data, Addiko Bank A.d. Podgorica has the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Montenegro. Its head office code is HAABMEPGXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

A large number of codes usually reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not a branch code is given, the head office code HAABMEPGXXX works for a payment to Addiko Bank A.d. Podgorica.