SWIFT/BIC codes in Niger

Bank SWIFT codes for Niger

This directory covers 17 banks and financial institutions in Niger and 19 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. Every code identifies a bank or one of its branches, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Select the bank below to view the head office code and its other codes. The rest of this page explain the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing before you send money.

Banque Centrale des Etats de L'afrique de L'ouest and its SWIFT codes

Of all banks we list for Niger, Banque Centrale des Etats de L'afrique de L'ouest is listed with the most SWIFT codes. Its main office uses BCAONENIXXX and that code covers most payments.

Practice differs in how many codes they register – a high count is not a measure of size. Paying someone at Banque Centrale des Etats de L'afrique de L'ouest? Use BCAONENIXXX unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

When does money sent to Niger arrive?

There is no fixed answer for payments to Niger: many land the same day or the next. Transfers sent late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out the next business day.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Keep your transfer receipt until the money has arrived.

International payments to Niger and the BIC

Niger is outside the SEPA area, so European euro rules do not apply. Payments from abroad normally go over the SWIFT network – which is why you need the BIC of the recipient’s bank.

In some countries, the account is identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN. The recipient’s bank often has instructions for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. International transfers sometimes go via one or more intermediary banks.

The cheapest way to send money to Niger

When you transfer money to Niger with your bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. Besides a fixed fee, intermediary banks may take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a rate below the actual market rate.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in Niger with different providers.

The structure of a Niger SWIFT/BIC code

A BIC is either 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. Characters one to four identify the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and the next two mark the location.

In every code from Niger, letters five and six show the ISO country code of Niger. A code with a different country code come from another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

When a code ends in XXX, it refers to the main office and the short version works just as well. In most cases the head office code is fine.

Incoming international payments in Niger

If you expect money from abroad in Niger, send the payer everything they need in one go. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

The code of your bank is in our list but always compare it with your own bank details. Certain sending banks also ask for the name and address of your bank.

The amount you receive can be lower than the amount sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. On invoices, agree who bears the costs.

Check the code before you pay

Ask the recipient to send you the account details straight from their banking app. A wrong code can cause a delay, a returned payment or additional charges.

We gather bank codes from public sources and update our list from time to time. Institutions reorganise, change names and change codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Use our data as a reference rather than the last word: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is a comparison service, not a bank.

Fraudsters regularly use payment requests carrying new bank details. Always verify changed details by phone, using a number you already had.