SWIFT/BIC codes in Nepal

SWIFT/BIC codes in Nepal

This directory lists 33 banks and other institutions in Nepal. You need such a code mainly when making payments across borders and for payments in a foreign currency.

Every bank has its own page showing its main code and, where available, codes for branches and departments. Further down we explain how codes from Nepal are built, how to send money there at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

How reliable is this list?

The best place to find the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a returned payment or extra fees – compare it with the code in our list.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. Treat our data as a starting point; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Watch out for payment requests with changed bank details. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.

How SWIFT codes from Nepal are built

SWIFT/BIC codes use one international format: eight characters plus an optional three-character extension. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six are the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

Whatever the bank, all Nepal codes share the same fifth and sixth letters: the ISO code of the country. Codes with a different country code belong to a bank abroad – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The long version adds a branch code, where XXX means the head office. In most cases the head office code is fine unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

Sending money to Nepal for less

An international bank payment to Nepal often costs rather more than you think. You pay a transfer fee, possibly fees from correspondent banks and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider is cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients in Nepal receive with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route.

When does money sent to Nepal arrive?

A SWIFT payment to Nepal typically needs one to a few business days. Payments made late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out the next business day.

If a transfer seems late, the sender should contact the sending bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Keep the payment confirmation until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Paying a bank in Nepal from abroad

Since Nepal does not belong to SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent as a SWIFT payment. This means the payment always needs the BIC of the recipient’s bank.

Not all countries use IBAN numbers; in that case the local account number is used instead. Check with the recipient which details their bank requires for payments from abroad. On the way to Nepal, a payment can go through intermediary banks that charge for their part.

Which bank in Nepal has the most codes?

Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank LTD. leads our list for Nepal in SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank LTD. uses NBOCNPKAXXX and that code covers most payments.

A large number of codes often means that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not the recipient asks for a branch, NBOCNPKAXXX is fine for a payment to Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank LTD..

What a sender needs to pay you in Nepal

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for a few details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. In practice that means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your address.

Find your bank in the list on this page and compare the code with your own bank details, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Some banks also want the name and address of your bank, so keep it at hand.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below what the sender paid. Correspondent banks can take a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.