SWIFT/BIC codes in Singapore: banks starting with A

Bank SWIFT codes for Singapore

This directory lists 504 banks and financial institutions in Singapore and 880 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. You will need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly when making payments across borders and for payments in a foreign currency.

Search for the recipient’s bank in the list and click through for all codes we have and the details a transfer needs. The sections below covers the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing.

Banks in Singapore starting with :letter

The letter filter limits the list to banks from Singapore that begin with :letter. The totals mentioned above always refer to all banks in Singapore.

If the bank you need is missing under :letter, check another letter: banks are often registered under their full legal name. Try the full list for Singapore when you do not know how the name is spelled.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Singapore

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. A wrong code can cause delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.

We collect bank codes using public sources and check our list from time to time. Still, banks merge or change codes and our data may lag behind. For any payment that matters, confirm the code with the recipient. We are a comparison site for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Fraudsters regularly send fake invoices with new bank details. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: criminals use real codes too.

Bank or transfer service for Singapore?

What you pay for a payment to Singapore is made up of several parts, and the fee on your screen is only one of them. You pay a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest part of the cost because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. Before you send money to Singapore, take a minute comparing the total cost via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

Most SWIFT codes in Singapore: BNP Paribas Securities Services SA

BNP Paribas Securities Services SA leads our list for Singapore when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is BPTSSGSGXXX – the code most transfers need.

The number of codes says more about how it registers branches and services than about how big it is. Making a payment to BNP Paribas Securities Services SA? Go with BPTSSGSGXXX except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

Paying in SGD: what conversion costs you

The currency in Singapore is the Singapore Dollar (SGD). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into SGD – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. In many cases you pay less if you send SGD straight away via a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. Exchange rates change during the day.

Incoming international payments in Singapore

For a transfer from abroad in Singapore, the person paying you has to have not just the SWIFT code. Give them your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

The code of your bank is in our list. It helps to add the name and city of your bank as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

What lands in your account is often lower than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

How SWIFT codes from Singapore are built

Bank identifier codes follow one international format: eight characters. It starts with a four-letter bank code, then a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

For banks in Singapore, letters five and six show the ISO country code of Singapore – that is the quickest way to spot one. A code with other letters in that position come from a bank abroad.

The optional last three characters identify a branch or department; XXX means the head office. In most cases the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

How long does a transfer to Singapore take?

A SWIFT payment to Singapore usually takes one to a few business days. Public holidays in Singapore or in the sending country add extra days to the journey.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi. Every payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often show a status online so you can follow the payment.

International payments to Singapore and the BIC

Singapore is not part of the SEPA area. Payments from abroad usually travel through the SWIFT network, and the BIC of the receiving bank is required.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Check with the recipient exactly which details their bank requires for incoming international payments. SWIFT payments can pass through one or more intermediary banks.