SWIFT/BIC codes in Nauru

SWIFT/BIC codes in Nauru

Here you will find codes for 2 institutions in Nauru. You need a SWIFT/BIC code mainly for international transfers, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Each bank has its own page with its main code and, where available, branch codes. The rest of this page covers how the codes work, the cost of transfers and how to avoid mistakes.

Which bank in Nauru has the most codes?

Among the 2 institutions we list, Bank of Nauru has the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Nauru. Its main office uses BNAUNRN1XXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Many codes often means that the bank registers branches and departments separately, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. If not a branch code is given, the head office code BNAUNRN1XXX works for a payment to Bank of Nauru.

When does money sent to Nauru arrive?

There is no single delivery time for payments to Nauru: many arrive within a day, others take several business days. Public holidays in either country can add extra days.

If the money is delayed, the sender should contact their own bank for a trace; only the sending side can start an official trace. Money transfer services usually show tracking in their app.

The cheapest way to send money to Nauru

What you pay for a transfer to Nauru is made up of more than one component. Besides a fixed fee, intermediary banks may take a cut, and when the money is converted the bank often uses a rate below the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest part of the cost. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers frequently use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in Nauru with different providers, so you can pick the cheapest route.

Why a transfer to Nauru needs a SWIFT code

Because Nauru does not belong to SEPA, an international payment is usually sent through SWIFT. This means the payment always needs the BIC of the receiving bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Depending on the country, the account is identified by a local account number rather than an IBAN and sometimes a local routing or branch code. The receiving bank often has a list of required details for payments from abroad. Before it arrives, a payment may pass through intermediary banks that charge for their part.

What a sender needs to pay you in Nauru

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. That means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your address.

Find your bank in the list above. Some sending banks may also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

The amount you receive 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, an exchange rate margin applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs.

Nauru and the Australian Dollar

Nauru uses the Australian Dollar. Money sent in a different currency will be converted into AUD before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Who does the conversion affects the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. In many cases it is cheaper if you send AUD straight away through a provider that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

How SWIFT codes from Nauru are built

Bank identifier codes follow one international format: eight characters. First comes four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

For banks in Nauru, characters five and six are the ISO country code of Nauru, which makes these codes easy to recognise. If the country letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else – worth double-checking.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the head office and the short version works just as well. Choose a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Nauru

The best place to find the right code is a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. An incorrect BIC can cause delays, a returned payment or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

We collect bank codes from public sources and check our list from time to time. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Treat this list as a reference, not as the final word: the bank details from the recipient come first. We are an independent comparison site, not a bank.

Fraudsters often use payment requests carrying changed bank details that look completely genuine. A valid BIC says nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.