Societe Generale SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Societe Generale

The short code SOGENL2A and the 11-character code SOGENL2AXXX refer to the same bank: Societe Generale, with its head office in Amsterdam. Banks worldwide use these codes to route payments between countries to the right bank. It comes up mostly when dealing with payments that cross a border or a currency.

On this page we explain how the code is put together, when you need it and what else a transfer to or from Societe Generale requires. Remember that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the person: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

SOGENL2A or SOGENL2AXXX – which one to use?

Every SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and a two-character location code. Combined, those parts make up SOGENL2A – the version you usually see online.

XXX at the end of SOGENL2AXXX is not a missing value or an error: it indicates the head office of Societe Generale. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, in which case you simply enter XXX behind SOGENL2A.

Enter the code in one piece, in capitals and without separators, exactly as shown here. Pasting the code is safer than typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.

Which of the 2 codes of Societe Generale do you need?

Our database contains 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Societe Generale, spread over 1 cities. Next to the head office code SOGENL2AXXX, you will find codes for branches, departments or specific services.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with SOGENL2AXXX. If you have been given a branch code, stick to it instead of replacing it with the head office code.

The best way is to take the code directly from the account holder’s bank details. Branch codes can change when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Societe Generale

How quickly a payment arrives at Societe Generale depends on a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday often start the next business day. Sometimes a bank asks about the purpose of a payment, which can hold things up.

If the money is late, ask your bank for the status and the transaction reference so they can trace it along the chain. Save your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms.

Only the sending bank can start an official trace – the recipient’s bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Ask the sender for the payment receipt including the reference – it helps your own bank look for the money.

What to give a sender who pays you at Societe Generale

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs several details about your account. In practice that means: your name as registered with Societe Generale, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code SOGENL2AXXX and usually your address.

It helps to include Societe Generale and its city as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A mistake in the IBAN is more trouble than you might think, so copy the details from your online banking.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank; check the price list of Societe Generale. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.

Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

The national currency in Netherlands is the Euro (EUR). When you pay another currency gets converted somewhere along the way. Every conversion eats into something.

Who converts the payment matters: every bank has its own margin. Compare what EUR arrives via different services.

Exchange rates change during the day. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate add up over time.

Paying someone abroad from your Societe Generale account

An international bank payment can cost rather more than the fee suggests. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may take a cut, and when the money changes currency the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many routes, a specialist provider is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares these services side by side, showing what actually arrives before you commit. You can always use your account at Societe Generale as the source of the money.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Societe Generale

The most reliable place for the correct BIC remains a document from the bank itself like a bank statement or the account page in online banking. When the code you were given differs from SOGENL2A or SOGENL2AXXX, do not guess.

If the code is wrong, the payment may be delayed, bounce back or cost extra. A mistake in the account number is a bigger problem, because the money may be credited to someone else; check it just as carefully.

Most online banking apps check the structure of an IBAN and some suggest the matching BIC, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. Where available, a payee name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. A small test payment can be a sensible step for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

Do you need SOGENL2A for a SEPA transfer?

Because Netherlands is part of the SEPA zone, a euro transfer into Societe Generale from another SEPA country normally requires just the IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC for these payments.

A SWIFT code like SOGENL2A does matter when the currency is not euros, and for transfers from outside SEPA. If a payment form has a field for the BIC anyway, adding SOGENL2A does no harm.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land by the next business day; instant payments are faster if both banks offer them. Provided the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer tends to be cheap; it is the conversion that costs money.

Watch out for payment fraud

Be alert when someone unexpectedly wants you to pay into another account abroad. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

Check changed payment details via a different channel. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet are red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If money has already gone to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams can also target the receiver. Someone sends more than agreed and wants you to refund the extra to a new account. A payment confirmation from the sender is no proof.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The details on this page come from public sources that we update regularly. It is possible that information on this page is no longer current after a merger or reorganisation. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset and are not confirmed by Societe Generale.

For any payment of any size, check the code with Societe Generale or with the recipient. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Societe Generale; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Spotted an error? Tell us via our contact form.