SWIFT/BIC codes in Northern Mariana Islands

Finding a SWIFT code in Northern Mariana Islands

For Northern Mariana Islands we have 4 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 4 banks. Every code identifies an institution or one of its branches and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Every bank is listed with its own page showing the head office code and if there are any, branch codes. Below the list we explain how a code from Northern Mariana Islands is put together, how to send money there at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

Most SWIFT codes in Northern Mariana Islands: Allied Mercantile Bank Corporation

Among the 4 institutions we list, Allied Mercantile Bank Corporation has the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Northern Mariana Islands. Its head office code is ALMPMPMPXXX – the code most transfers need.

The number of codes says something about how it registers branches and services than about how big it is. Paying someone at Allied Mercantile Bank Corporation? Go with ALMPMPMPXXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Northern Mariana Islands

Every SWIFT/BIC code has 8 or 11 characters in a fixed order. First comes a four-letter bank code, then two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

In every code from Northern Mariana Islands, characters five and six are the ISO country code of Northern Mariana Islands – that is the quickest way to spot one. When those two letters do not match Northern Mariana Islands, you are looking at a bank somewhere else.

When a code ends in XXX, it refers to the head office and the short version works just as well. Use a branch code only when the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

About our data and how to check a code

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. A wrong code can cause delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on publicly available sources. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes, so information can be out of date. Use this list as a starting point rather than the last word: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and has no link to the banks in this list.

Watch out for invoices with a new account, especially when they come by email. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

Receiving money in Northern Mariana Islands from abroad

If you are waiting for a payment from another country in Northern Mariana Islands, send the payer all details at once. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and sometimes your address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. You can add your bank’s name and city as well.

Expect that the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin applies. On invoices, state how the fees are split.

The US Dollar (USD) and conversion costs

Bank accounts in Northern Mariana Islands are typically held in USD. Money sent in a different currency will be converted into USD on its way to the recipient.

Which bank converts the money matters: every bank has its own margin. In many cases you pay less to send USD directly through a provider with a good rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. On larger amounts, a seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

What a transfer to Northern Mariana Islands really costs

When you send money to Northern Mariana Islands with your bank, the stated fee is rarely all of the cost. On top of a fixed fee, intermediary banks can take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a rate below the real market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Before your next transfer to Northern Mariana Islands, take a minute comparing the total cost via GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.

Why a transfer to Northern Mariana Islands needs a SWIFT code

Northern Mariana Islands is not part of the SEPA area. Payments from abroad normally go through the SWIFT network, and the BIC of the receiving bank is required.

Not all countries use the IBAN. Check with the recipient which details their bank needs for incoming international payments – many banks give clear instructions for this. International transfers sometimes go via one or more intermediary banks and fees can be taken along the way.

Tracking a payment to Northern Mariana Islands

A SWIFT payment to Northern Mariana Islands typically needs anywhere from one to several business days. Public holidays in Northern Mariana Islands or in the sending country add extra days to the journey.

If the money is delayed, the sender should contact the sending bank. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking in their app so you can follow the payment.