Bank of Namibia SWIFT/BIC code

Bank of Namibia SWIFT code: CBKNNANX

The 8-character code CBKNNANX and the full code CBKNNANXXXX identify the same bank: Bank of Namibia. A BIC does one job: it makes sure that an international payment reaches the right bank. In practice you mostly see the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and in the bank details of Bank of Namibia customers.

On this page you will find what the code is put together, when it matters and what else you need for a transfer to or from Bank of Namibia. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify an individual account holder; for that you need the account number or IBAN is for.

International transfers from Bank of Namibia: the real cost

What you pay for an international transfer has more than one component, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. Besides a fixed fee, banks in between can deduct a fee, and when the money changes currency the bank usually uses a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest item, and it is easy to miss. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a traditional bank transfer. On GoldexPay we compare the amount that arrives across providers, so you can pick the cheapest route. Using a transfer service does not mean leaving Bank of Namibia – you pay the provider from your own account.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and check them from time to time. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes and our data may lag behind. The figures on this page reflect what is in our directory and not on information from Bank of Namibia itself.

Use our data as a reference, rather than as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is independent of Bank of Namibia; we are a comparison site for money transfers. If you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a message via the contact page.

Head office or branch code at Bank of Namibia?

Bank of Namibia has 2 separate SWIFT/BIC codes. One of them is the head office code, CBKNNANXXXX; the rest identify branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

Usually you do not need to pick a branch: payments sent to CBKNNANXXXX are routed within Bank of Namibia correctly. When you receive a specific code, stick to it instead of swapping it for the head office code.

Unsure which code to use? Ask the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Bank of Namibia. Branch codes are more likely to be retired than CBKNNANXXXX.

Before you send: check the Bank of Namibia code

Ask the recipient to copy the bank details directly from their banking app. Check it with CBKNNANX on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a returned payment or additional charges for investigation. Remember the account number: a mistake there is harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

Many banking apps check the structure of an IBAN – that confirms the format, not the owner. If your bank offers it, a name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first can be worth it for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Criminals regularly use payment requests with changed bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. That CBKNNANX is a real code does not mean that the account is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Check changed payment details via a different channel, such as a phone number you already know, not by replying to the message. Pressure or requests to keep it quiet are red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. When a payment was sent to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference to another account. A payment confirmation from the sender is no proof; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Getting paid from abroad into a Bank of Namibia account

To receive an international payment into your account at Bank of Namibia, the sender has to have more than the BIC. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC CBKNNANXXXX and your address, which some banks require.

The sender’s bank might request the bank address of Bank of Namibia, in which case the Windhoek head office is the usual answer. A typo in the IBAN is harder to fix than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Money from abroad will not always arrive for the full amount. Correspondent banks can take a fee, Bank of Namibia may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Agree with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

8 or 11 characters: CBKNNANX versus CBKNNANXXXX

The layout of a BIC is always the same: four characters for the institution, two for the country and a two-character location code, plus an optional branch code. For Bank of Namibia, the 8-character core is CBKNNANX.

XXX at the end of CBKNNANXXXX is not a missing value or an error: it stands for the main office of Bank of Namibia. Certain payment forms ask for 11 characters, and then you can enter XXX behind CBKNNANX.

Leave out spaces, dots when you enter CBKNNANX or CBKNNANXXXX. A wrong letter may route the money to a different institution.

Tracking a transfer to or from Bank of Namibia

There is no fixed answer: some land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often start a business day later. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments may also cause some delay, even when all details are correct.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact your bank for the status so they can trace it along the chain. Money transfer services usually show tracking in their app so you can see where the payment has got.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the sender should start with their own bank, not the receiving bank. On the receiving end, you can check your statements to see a partial amount.