The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Whether a recipient gives you HSBCSGSG or HSBCSGSGXXX, it is the identical identifier for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Singapore. A SWIFT code shows the sending bank which institution should receive the money. In daily life you usually come across it on invoices from abroad, in your banking app and in the bank details that The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited provides.

We wrote this page to help anyone who sends money to an account at The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. Remember that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number does that part.

Why The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited has an 8- and an 11-character code

Each SWIFT/BIC code has the same eight core characters: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. For The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, that core is HSBCSGSG.

Many payment forms accept both lengths. If a form asks for eleven characters, use HSBCSGSGXXX, otherwise HSBCSGSG is fine.

Enter the code in one piece, in capitals and without separators. A wrong character may route the money to a different institution, so check it twice.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is compiled from publicly available sources and we update it periodically. Even so, banks merge or retire codes and our data may lag behind. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory, not official figures from The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.

For any payment that matters, always check the BIC with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited or the recipient. We are an independent comparison service and not part of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. If you notice a mistake, we welcome a short note.

Is HSBCSGSG still correct? How to check

Ask the recipient to send you their bank details straight from their online banking. When the code you were given does not match HSBCSGSG or HSBCSGSGXXX, do not guess.

With a wrong code, the payment may be delayed, bounce back or cost extra – sometimes after weeks of searching. Do not forget the IBAN: an error there can be more difficult to correct than a wrong code.

Most online banking apps check the structure of IBANs and some suggest the matching BIC. Some banks now check the name against the account before you confirm; take any warning seriously. Sending a small amount first is a sensible step for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

Incoming international payments to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

When you expect money from abroad, give the sender all details at once. Give them your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code HSBCSGSGXXX and your address.

The sender’s bank may request the bank address of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, in which case the Singapore head office is the usual answer. A mistake in the IBAN can be more trouble than you might think.

Money from abroad does not always land for the full amount. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank – the price list of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited tells you what applies. For business payments, it is common to state who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

How long does an international transfer to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited take?

An international transfer usually takes one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Weekends and public holidays in either country can add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Sometimes a bank asks about the purpose of a payment, which can hold things up.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each payment gets a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Save your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace or a recall; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. On the receiving end, you can check your statements to see a partial amount.

Watch out for payment fraud

Criminals regularly use fake invoices containing changed bank details. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers simply use real codes.

Verify changed bank details via a separate channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, not by replying to the message. Pressure and requests to keep it quiet are warning signs – a real supplier can wait a day. When money was sent to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately.

People receiving money are targeted too: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much followed by a request to send back the difference. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Sending SGD to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

Singapore pays in the Singapore Dollar, code SGD. A payment in a foreign currency is exchanged into SGD on its way to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate line for the conversion; it is built into the rate.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Check what SGD arrives via several services before choosing one.

The rate for SGD fluctuates throughout the day, so the amount you see is usually only valid for a short time. If you pay regularly, small differences in the rate add up over time.

Head office or branch code at The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited?

Having 7 codes, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited belongs to the banks that register individual codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The main code is HSBCSGSGXXX.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, go with HSBCSGSGXXX. A branch code only makes sense when the account holder specifically asks for it.

Unsure which code applies? Check with the recipient. Branch codes are more prone to be retired than HSBCSGSGXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

What a transfer from The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited abroad really costs

When you send money to another country through The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, the fee you see is rarely all of the cost. There is the transfer fee, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee: many banks convert using an exchange rate with a margin built in. A simple test: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives with different services. You can still keep your account at The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.