SWIFT/BIC codes in Norway: banks starting with L

Norway: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

This overview contains 306 banks and financial institutions in Norway. Each code points to an institution or one of its branches, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Pick the bank from the list to see the head office code and any branch codes along with tips for payments to and from that bank. The rest of this page covers the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing before a payment.

The cheapest way to send money to Norway

When you transfer money to Norway via a regular bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. There is a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

The markup on the rate is often the largest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: set the offered rate against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients in Norway receive with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route.

Filter: banks in Norway with :letter

The letter filter narrows the list down to banks from Norway that begin with :letter. The totals mentioned above always refer to all banks in Norway and not only this selection.

Many institutions appear under their legal name, which may start with words like Bank or Banco. The complete list remains one click away when the letter filter does not help.

How reliable is this list?

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. If the code you have differs from our list, stop and ask: check with the recipient or the bank.

The directory on GoldexPay is based on public sources and is updated regularly. Banks merge, close branches and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Use this list as a starting point, not as the final word: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Be wary of payment requests containing a new account, especially when they come by email. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine.

Paying in euros to Norway

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to Norway follow common rules and in most cases need only the IBAN. A field for the BIC is usually optional in that case.

You still need the BIC when sending payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. SEPA transfers usually arrive by the next business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. As long as no conversion is involved, the transfer tends to be inexpensive.

Norway and the Norwegian Krone

The currency in Norway is the Norwegian Krone (NOK). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into NOK.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Check how much NOK the recipient gets with different services. Exchange rates change all the time.

Most SWIFT codes in Norway: Storebrand Kapitalforvaltning

Among the 306 institutions we list, Storebrand Kapitalforvaltning has the most SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Norway. Its head office code is STKTNOK1000.

Banks differ in whether they register branch codes – a high count is not a measure of size. Paying someone at Storebrand Kapitalforvaltning? Use STKTNOK1000 except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Norway

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. It starts with four letters for the bank, then a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

Whatever the bank, all Norway codes share the same country code in positions five and six. Codes with other letters in that position come from another country.

An 11-character code ends in three characters for a branch, where XXX means the head office. Use a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.

How long does a transfer to Norway take?

There is no single answer for transfers to Norway: many arrive the same day or the next while others need several business days. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday often start the next business day.

If a transfer seems delayed, the sender should contact the sending bank; only the sending side can start an official trace. Specialist transfer services often show a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Norway

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. Share the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Find your bank in the list above to check its code, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Certain sending banks also ask for your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.

What lands in your account is often less than what was sent. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank. On invoices, agree how the fees are split.