National Bank of Pakistan SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of National Bank of Pakistan

The 8-character code NBPAPKKA and the full code NBPAPKKAXXX identify the same bank: National Bank of Pakistan in Karachi, Pakistan. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment exactly which bank is meant to get the money, much like a postcode for banks. In practice you mostly see the code on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details that National Bank of Pakistan provides.

On this page we explain what the code is put together, when you need it and what else a transfer to or from National Bank of Pakistan requires. The SWIFT code alone does not identify a personal account; for that you need the IBAN or account number is for.

Is NBPAPKKA still correct? How to check

Ask the recipient to copy their account details straight from their banking app. Check it with NBPAPKKA here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

A wrong SWIFT code can cause delays, a returned payment or additional charges. Remember the account number: an error there is harder to correct than a wrong BIC.

A validity check by your bank only tells you that the code exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. More and more banks compare the name against the account; take any warning seriously. For a first payment, many people send a small test amount before sending the rest.

Incoming international payments to National Bank of Pakistan

A sender in another country will ask for several details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. That means: your name as registered with National Bank of Pakistan, your IBAN or account number, the BIC NBPAPKKAXXX and sometimes your postal address.

Their bank might request the address of your bank; the head office in Karachi is usually fine. Check the details before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Money from abroad will not always land for the full amount. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Stay wary if a contact suddenly wants you to send money to another account or a bank in another country. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers simply use real codes.

Do not trust contact details from the same email that contains the change. Pressure and secrecy tend to be red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. Acted too fast? Contact your bank straight away and ask them to try to recall the payment and report the fraud.

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

What the XXX in NBPAPKKAXXX means

A SWIFT code is built from a few fixed parts: the first four letters identify the bank, the next two show the country and the two after that indicate the location. Together, these eight characters make up NBPAPKKA, the code most people search for.

Many payment forms work with both lengths. If a form asks for eleven characters, enter NBPAPKKAXXX; if it wants eight, use NBPAPKKA.

Leave out spaces when you type NBPAPKKA. Copying the code is safer than retyping it.

National Bank of Pakistan: head office code versus branch codes

National Bank of Pakistan has 22 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 13 cities. One of them is the head office code, NBPAPKKAXXX; the others identify branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code NBPAPKKAXXX works fine. Just use a branch code when the recipient explicitly asks for it.

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

When will the money arrive at National Bank of Pakistan?

An international transfer typically needs anywhere from one to several business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before weekends and holidays often start the next business day. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments may also add some delay.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi. Every payment carries a unique reference, the UETR. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid should start with the bank that sent it rather than National Bank of Pakistan. On the receiving end, it helps to look at your account for a partial amount because fees can reduce the amount.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from publicly available data and check our list from time to time. Still, banks merge or retire codes. The number of codes we show are based on our own data and not on information from National Bank of Pakistan itself.

Before any payment of any size, always confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. GoldexPay is independent of National Bank of Pakistan; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Spotted an error? Tell us through the contact page and we will look into it.

What a transfer from National Bank of Pakistan abroad really costs

When you transfer money abroad via National Bank of Pakistan, the visible fee is only part of the cost. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from correspondent banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the currency changes.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: many banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many routes, a transfer service is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer. On GoldexPay we compare what recipients receive across services, so you can pick the cheapest route. Using a transfer service does not require leaving National Bank of Pakistan: you simply pay the service from your account.