First National Bank of Namibia Limited SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of First National Bank of Namibia Limited

FIRNNANX and FIRNNANXXXX are two spellings of the same bank identifier, and both point to First National Bank of Namibia Limited in Windhoek. Banks worldwide use these codes to route international transfers to the correct institution. It comes up mostly when dealing with payments that cross a border.

On this page you can read how the code means, when you need it and which other details you need for a transfer to or from First National Bank of Namibia Limited. The BIC names an institution, not a single account; the IBAN or account number does that.

Watch out for payment fraud

Be wary if someone suddenly wants you to send money to another account or a bank in another country. The fact that FIRNNANX exists is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is legitimate.

Check new payment details via a separate channel, such as a phone number you already know. Pressure and secrecy tend to be red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. Already paid? Contact the bank you paid from straight away and have them start a recall and report the fraud.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much followed by a request to send back the difference abroad. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Tracking a transfer to or from First National Bank of Namibia Limited

An international transfer usually takes one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Bank holidays in the sending or receiving country can add extra days to the journey. Sometimes a bank asks about the purpose of a payment, which can hold things up.

If a transfer seems delayed, contact your bank for the status and the transaction reference. Keep the payment confirmation; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

Only the sending bank is able to start an official trace. As a recipient, you can look at your account for a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.

About this information

The details on this page come from publicly available data which we refresh regularly. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. The figures we show reflect our own data.

Before a payment of any size, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is not affiliated with First National Bank of Namibia Limited; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Found outdated information? Tell us through the contact page.

Why First National Bank of Namibia Limited has an 8- and an 11-character code

A BIC is made up of a few fixed parts: characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six show the country and the two after that mark the location. In this case, the 8-character core is FIRNNANX.

Most payment forms accept both lengths. If a form requires eleven characters, use FIRNNANXXXX; if it wants eight, use FIRNNANX.

Type the code as one block, in upper case and without separators. Pasting the code beats typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.

Is FIRNNANX still correct? How to check

Have the recipient send you their account details straight from their online banking. Check it against FIRNNANX here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or extra fees for investigation. An error in the IBAN or account number is more serious, so check that just as carefully.

Most online banking apps check the structure of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. If your bank offers it, a payee name check on the recipient gives an extra layer of safety. A small test payment can be a sensible step for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of First National Bank of Namibia Limited

With 2 codes in 1 cities, First National Bank of Namibia Limited is one of the banks that register individual codes for branches. The main code is FIRNNANXXXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with FIRNNANXXXX or its short form FIRNNANX. A branch code only makes sense if the recipient’s bank explicitly mentions it.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Branch codes are more likely to be retired than FIRNNANXXXX.

Sending money abroad from First National Bank of Namibia Limited

An international bank payment can cost rather more than the fee suggests. You pay the transfer fee, possibly charges from correspondent banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate when the money is converted.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: many banks convert using an exchange rate with a margin built in. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites.

Specialist money transfer services frequently use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Next time you send money, take a minute comparing what arrives via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. You can still use your account at First National Bank of Namibia Limited, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

Receiving money from abroad at First National Bank of Namibia Limited

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details about your account. Give them your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, the BIC FIRNNANXXXX and your address, which some banks require.

You can add the bank name and its city as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A mistake in the IBAN can be harder to fix than it looks, so copy the details from your online banking.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Agree with the sender who pays which costs.