SWIFT/BIC codes in São Tomé & Príncipe

São Tomé & Príncipe: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

For São Tomé & Príncipe our database holds 8 SWIFT/BIC codes. Every code points to a bank or one of its branches.

Pick the bank below to view its head office code and its other codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Below the list you can read how codes from São Tomé & Príncipe are built, how to send money there without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

What a transfer to São Tomé & Príncipe really costs

What you pay for a payment to São Tomé & Príncipe is made up of more than one component. Besides the fee, correspondent banks may deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank usually uses a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites. The difference is your real cost.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares these providers next to each other, showing the amount that reaches the recipient.

How SWIFT codes from São Tomé & Príncipe are built

Each SWIFT/BIC code consists of 8 or 11 characters. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six are the country code and the next two mark the location.

No matter which bank, every code from São Tomé & Príncipe have the same fifth and sixth letters: the ISO code of the country. A code with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

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

Incoming international payments in São Tomé & Príncipe

For a transfer from abroad in São Tomé & Príncipe, the sender needs not just the BIC. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Look up the 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 want your bank’s address.

What lands in your account can be lower than the amount sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Most SWIFT codes in São Tomé & Príncipe: Afriland First Bank Stp

Afriland First Bank Stp tops our list for São Tomé & Príncipe when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office uses AFFSSTSTXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

Many codes often reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Making a payment to Afriland First Bank Stp? Go with AFFSSTSTXXX unless a specific branch code is requested.

How long does a transfer to São Tomé & Príncipe take?

How fast a payment arrives in São Tomé & Príncipe depends on several factors: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Bank holidays in either country add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact their own bank for a trace. Save your transfer receipt – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Paying a bank in São Tomé & Príncipe from abroad

For São Tomé & Príncipe you usually need the BIC. Without the BIC, most banks cannot process the transfer.

In some countries, the account is identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Check with the recipient which details their bank needs for incoming international payments – many banks give clear instructions for this. Before it arrives, a payment may pass through intermediary banks that take a fee.

About our data and how to check a code

The most reliable place for the right code is paperwork issued by the bank. A wrong code can cause delays, a returned payment or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

This list is compiled from public sources that we update periodically. Institutions reorganise, change names and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. For a payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. We are an independent comparison site.

Be wary of payment requests containing changed bank details, especially when they come by email. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: criminals use real codes too.