Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. SWIFT/BIC code

Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. SWIFT code: CAFEPAPA

CAFEPAPA and CAFEPAPAXXX are the short and the long form of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both lead to Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. in Panama. Banks worldwide use these codes to route payments between countries to the correct institution. In practice you mostly see the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and on the account details that Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. provides.

On this page you will find what the code is put together, when it matters and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A.. Keep in mind that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number takes care of that.

Which of the 2 codes of Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. do you need?

With 2 codes in 2 locations, Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. belongs to the banks that use individual codes for branches. The main code is CAFEPAPAXXX.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, use CAFEPAPAXXX. When you receive a branch code, use it as it is rather than replacing it for the head office code.

The best way is to take the code directly from the recipient’s statement. Branch codes can change when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Watch out for payment fraud

Be alert if a contact unexpectedly wants you to send money to a different account abroad. That CAFEPAPA is a real code does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Check new payment details via a different channel, never via the email that asked for the change. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet are warning signs. Already paid? Contact the bank you paid from without delay and ask them to start a recall.

Fraud also work the other way. Someone claims to have sent more than agreed and wants you to refund the difference. Wait until the money has really arrived.

Before you send: check the Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. code

The most reliable place for the right code is paperwork issued by the bank. Check that code against CAFEPAPA here.

With a wrong code, the payment might get stuck, bounce back or cost extra – sometimes after weeks of searching. Remember the IBAN: an error there can be more difficult to undo than a wrong BIC.

A validity check by your bank merely tells you that the IBAN is valid, not that it is the right account. Where available, a name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. When you pay someone new, some people send a small test amount.

CAFEPAPA or CAFEPAPAXXX – which one to use?

The layout of every SWIFT code never changes: a bank code of four letters, a two-letter country code and two for the location, sometimes followed by a branch code. The result is CAFEPAPA.

Most payment forms work with either length. If a form asks for eleven characters, enter CAFEPAPAXXX; if it wants eight, use CAFEPAPA.

Enter the code as one block, in upper case and without separators, exactly as shown here. Pasting the code is safer than retyping it: a typo can point to another bank.

Paying someone abroad from your Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. account

When you send money abroad from Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A., the visible fee is rarely all of what you pay. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when the money changes currency the bank often applies a rate below the real market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: the bank converts at a rate with a margin built in. A simple test: set the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many routes, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank. GoldexPay lists these services next to each other so you can see the amount the recipient gets. Choosing a specialist does not require leaving Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A.: you simply pay the service from your account.

When will the money arrive at Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A.?

How fast a payment arrives at Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. is determined by a few things: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often go out a business day later. Sometimes a bank asks what the payment is for, which can hold things up.

If the money seems late, ask the sending bank about the tracking status or the UETR; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Money transfer services often show tracking in their app so you can see how far the money has got.

A delayed transfer is investigated by the sending bank. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation with the date and reference; that often settles the question quickly.

How up to date is this code?

We gather bank codes from publicly available data and check our list regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. Counts and locations are from our own dataset and may differ from what Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. publishes.

Treat this page as a starting point, rather than as the last word. GoldexPay is independent of Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A.. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message via the contact page.

Incoming international payments to Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A.

When you are waiting for money from abroad, give the sender a complete set of details. The basics are: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, CAFEPAPAXXX or CAFEPAPA and often your home address.

It helps to add Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. and its city as well. A typo in the IBAN is harder to fix than you might think.

The amount you receive is often lower than the amount sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, Banco Davivienda (Panama), S.A. may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. On invoices, you can agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.