SWIFT/BIC codes in Nicaragua

Nicaragua: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

This overview lists 20 banks and financial institutions in Nicaragua, with 20 SWIFT/BIC codes in total. Every code identifies a bank or a specific branch or department, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Every bank is listed with its own page with its main code and, where available, branch codes. Further down we explain how a code from Nicaragua is put together, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

Receiving money in Nicaragua from abroad

For a transfer from abroad into a Nicaragua account, the sender has to have not just the BIC. In practice that means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your postal address.

Look up the bank in the list on this page. Certain banks may also ask for the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

Expect that the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank. For business payments, state who bears the costs, so nobody is left short.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Nicaragua

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. A wrong code can cause a delay, a returned payment or extra fees.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory draws on publicly available sources. Banks merge, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Treat this list as a starting point, not as the final word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Fraudsters often send payment requests carrying new bank details from what looks like a familiar address. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

How SWIFT codes from Nicaragua are built

SWIFT/BIC codes follow one international format: eight characters, sometimes followed by three more. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

You can spot a bank code from Nicaragua from letters five and six – those always form the country code of Nicaragua. If the country letters do not match Nicaragua, you are looking at a bank somewhere else, so check again.

An 11-character code adds a branch code. Choose a branch code just if the recipient explicitly gives you one – otherwise stick with the head office.

Transfer times to Nicaragua

An international transfer to Nicaragua usually takes one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Bank holidays in either country can add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

If the money is late, the sender should contact their own bank for a trace – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms.

International payments to Nicaragua and the BIC

For Nicaragua you will almost always need the BIC – Nicaragua is not a SEPA country. Without the BIC, your bank cannot send the payment.

Not every country uses the IBAN; in that case the local account number is used instead. The recipient’s bank usually has a list of required details for incoming international payments – follow them exactly. Before it arrives, a transfer can go through correspondent banks.

Which bank in Nicaragua has the most codes?

Of the 20 banks in Nicaragua, Banco Central de Nicaragua has the largest number of SWIFT codes. Its main office uses BCNINIMAXXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

A large number of codes often reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Making a payment to Banco Central de Nicaragua? Use BCNINIMAXXX unless a specific branch code is requested.

What a transfer to Nicaragua really costs

A bank transfer to Nicaragua can cost rather more than the fee suggests. Besides the fee, intermediary banks can deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the largest cost item. An easy check: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay compares these providers side by side, showing what actually arrives in Nicaragua.