Nepal Rastra Bank SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Nepal Rastra Bank

The short code NRBLNPKA and the 11-character code NRBLNPKAXXX identify the same bank: Nepal Rastra Bank, with its head office in Kathmandu. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to route payments between countries to the correct institution. It comes up mainly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

Further down we go through the practical side: money coming in from abroad, paying someone in another country and how to check a SWIFT code before you hit send. The SWIFT code alone does not identify an individual account holder; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

How to check NRBLNPKA before you pay

The most reliable source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a bank statement or their online banking. Check it against NRBLNPKA on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or additional charges along the way. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person.

Most online banking apps validate the format of IBANs – that confirms the format, not the owner. More and more banks compare the name with the account before you confirm; take any warning seriously. A small test payment is a sensible step for a large first payment.

International transfers from Nepal Rastra Bank: the real cost

An international bank payment costs more than the listed fee. There is the fee for the transfer itself, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest item. A simple test: put the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay compares these services next to each other so you can see what actually arrives before you commit. You can always use your account at Nepal Rastra Bank to fund the transfer.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We gather bank codes from publicly available data and check them regularly. It is possible that a code here is out of date, for example after a merger. The figures we show reflect what is in our directory.

For a payment of any size, always confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service for money transfers and not affiliated with Nepal Rastra Bank. Found an error? Let us know through the contact page and we will look into it.

Receiving money from abroad at Nepal Rastra Bank

For an international payment at Nepal Rastra Bank, the sender has to have not just the BIC. The basics are: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, NRBLNPKAXXX and in many cases your postal address.

Some banks also ask for the address of Nepal Rastra Bank. Check every detail before you share them.

Expect that the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, a markup on the rate applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Changed bank details? Be careful

One of the most common tricks goes like this: an email arrives with a message claiming that a contact now has a new bank account and that the next payment should go there. That NRBLNPKA is a real code is no guarantee that the account is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Verify changed bank details through a separate channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract. Be suspicious of time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Call the bank you paid from without delay and have them try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

Recipients are targeted too: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much followed by a request to send back the difference. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof – check your own account.

Which of the 2 codes of Nepal Rastra Bank do you need?

We have 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Nepal Rastra Bank. Besides the head office code NRBLNPKAXXX, there are codes for individual branches and departments.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, use NRBLNPKAXXX or its short form NRBLNPKA. If you have been given a branch code, use it as it is rather than replacing it for the head office code.

The safest route is to copy the code directly from the recipient’s invoice. Branch codes are more prone to change than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

When will the money arrive at Nepal Rastra Bank?

There is no fixed delivery time: some arrive within a day while others need several business days. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday often go out a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment before releasing it.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Every gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Money transfer services usually provide tracking online so you can see where the money has got.

Only the sending bank can request a trace – the recipient’s bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Request from the sender the payment receipt; that often settles the question quickly.

8 or 11 characters: NRBLNPKA versus NRBLNPKAXXX

A SWIFT code is made up of fixed blocks: the first four letters stand for the bank, characters five and six give the country and the two after that indicate the location. The result is NRBLNPKA, the short form of the code.

Most payment forms work with both lengths. If a form asks for eleven characters, use NRBLNPKAXXX; if it wants eight, use NRBLNPKA.

Type the code as one block, in upper case and without spaces. A single character may route a payment to a different institution, so copy it carefully.