Citibank N.a. SWIFT/BIC code

Citibank N.a. SWIFT code: CITIPKKX

CITIPKKX and CITIPKKXXXX are the short and the long form of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Citibank N.a. in Karachi. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment which institution is meant to get the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. You will need it mostly for payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

We wrote this page to help people who receives money at an account at Citibank N.a. and wants to get the details right. A SWIFT code names an institution, not a specific account.

8 or 11 characters: CITIPKKX versus CITIPKKXXXX

A BIC is built from fixed blocks: characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six give the country and the two after that mark the location. Together, those parts make up CITIPKKX.

XXX at the end of CITIPKKXXXX is not a missing value or an error: it indicates the head office of Citibank N.a.. Some forms ask for 11 characters, and then you simply add XXX behind CITIPKKX.

Leave out spaces when you type CITIPKKX or CITIPKKXXXX. Pasting the code beats retyping it: a typo can point to another bank.

How long does an international transfer to Citibank N.a. take?

An international transfer typically needs anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Transfers sent late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out the next business day. Compliance checks by one of the banks may also add a delay, regardless of the details.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often show a status in their app so you can see where the payment has got.

A delayed transfer has to be traced from the sending side on the basis of the transfer details. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation.

How up to date is this code?

This directory is compiled from public sources and is updated regularly. Institutions reorganise, change names and change codes. The figures we show are based on our own data and not on information from Citibank N.a. itself.

Treat the information on this page as a handy check, and let the details from the recipient or Citibank N.a. have the final say. We are a comparison site and not affiliated with Citibank N.a.. Spotted outdated information? Let us know via our contact form.

What to give a sender who pays you at Citibank N.a.

For an international payment into your account at Citibank N.a., the sender needs not just the SWIFT code. In practice that means: your name as registered with Citibank N.a., your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code CITIPKKXXXX (or CITIPKKX) and, often, your address.

It helps to include Citibank N.a. and its city as well. A mistake in the IBAN can be more trouble than it looks, so copy the details from your online banking.

The amount you receive can be lower than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank – the price list of Citibank N.a. tells you what applies. For business payments, you can state who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

What a transfer from Citibank N.a. abroad really costs

A bank transfer abroad can cost more than the listed fee. On top of the transfer fee, banks in between may take a cut, and if the money changes currency, the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest item, and it is easy to miss. Check their rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay lists these services side by side so you can see what actually arrives for the same amount sent. Using a transfer service does not mean leaving Citibank N.a.: you simply pay the service from your account.

Head office or branch code at Citibank N.a.?

With 5 codes, Citibank N.a. belongs to the banks that register individual codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The head office code remains CITIPKKXXXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with CITIPKKXXXX or its short form CITIPKKX. Only use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

If you are not sure, ask the person you are paying for the exact BIC in their bank details. Branch codes can change over time.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

One of the most common tricks goes like this: an email arrives with a message saying that a contact now has a new bank account. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Before paying, confirm changed bank details through a phone call on a number you know, not one from the message. Be suspicious of time pressure, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. If money was sent to the wrong account, call your bank right away.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference abroad. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof – check your own account.

Before you send: check the Citibank N.a. code

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 CITIPKKX or CITIPKKXXXX, stop and ask: check with the recipient or with Citibank N.a. directly.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or cost extra. An error in the account number is more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else, so check that just as carefully.

A validity check in your banking app merely tells you that the code is valid, not that it is the right account. Some banks now check the name with the account – do not ignore a mismatch warning. For a first payment, some people start with a small test amount and wait for confirmation.