Bme Clearing SWIFT/BIC code

What MEFFESBB means for a payment to Bme Clearing

MEFFESBB and MEFFESBBXXX are two ways of writing the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Bme Clearing in Madrid. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to route international transfers to the right bank. In practice you mostly see the code on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details that Bme Clearing provides.

Further down we go through the practical side: receiving money at Bme Clearing, paying someone in another country and how to check a SWIFT code before you confirm a payment. Remember that the SWIFT code only identifies the bank, not the person: the account number or IBAN does that part.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Bme Clearing

The best place to find the right code is a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. Check that code with MEFFESBB on this page and ask if anything does not match.

An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees for investigation. An error in the account number is more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else.

Most online banking apps validate the format of an IBAN and some suggest the matching BIC. More and more banks check the name against the account before you confirm. A small test payment is worth it for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

Watch out for payment fraud

One of the most common tricks goes like this: an email arrives with a message claiming that a contact now has a new bank account. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

Always confirm a change of bank details by phone. Watch out for urgent requests, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Call your bank without delay and ask them to try to recall the payment.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference to another account. Do not act before the money is actually in your account and check with Bme Clearing if anything seems off.

Head office or branch code at Bme Clearing?

We have 10 SWIFT/BIC codes for Bme Clearing, spread over 2 locations. Besides the head office code MEFFESBBXXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

In most cases there is no need to look up a branch: transfers sent to MEFFESBBXXX reach Bme Clearing without problems. Just use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code.

The best way is to take the code straight from the account holder’s bank details. Branch codes are more likely to change than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

Paying Bme Clearing in euros within SEPA

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to Bme Clearing follow the same rules and in most cases need only the IBAN. The BIC field is usually optional or missing in that case.

Outside the euro and for senders outside SEPA, MEFFESBBXXX is still required. If a payment form has a field for the BIC anyway, entering MEFFESBB is fine.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land by the next business day. Charges on SEPA transfers tend to be low as long as everything stays in euros.

Paying into Bme Clearing in EUR

Spain uses the Euro, with the currency code EUR. If you send money in a different currency gets converted at some point – by your bank, by Bme Clearing or by a bank in between. Each conversion eats into the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Who converts the payment matters. Often you pay less if you send EUR straight away via a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

The rate for EUR fluctuates constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. For recurring payments, small differences in the rate make a real difference over time.

How up to date is this code?

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from publicly available sources and we update it periodically. It can happen that information here is out of date, for example after a merger. Counts and locations are from our directory and are not confirmed by Bme Clearing.

Treat this page as a reference, not as the last word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. We are an independent comparison service and not part of Bme Clearing. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a short note via the contact page.

Incoming international payments to Bme Clearing

For a transfer from abroad into your account at Bme Clearing, the person paying you needs more than the SWIFT code. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC MEFFESBBXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Their bank may also ask for the address of your bank. A mistake in the IBAN is harder to fix than it looks; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

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 currency changes, a markup on the rate applies. On invoices, it is common to state who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Bme Clearing

How fast a transfer arrives at Bme Clearing depends on several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Transfers sent late in the day or on weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Occasionally a bank asks about the purpose of a payment, which can hold things up.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact your bank about the status so they can trace it along the chain. Specialist transfer services usually provide tracking in their app showing how far the payment is.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the sender should start with the bank that sent it rather than Bme Clearing. Request from the sender the payment receipt including the reference – it helps your own bank look for the money.

What a transfer from Bme Clearing abroad really costs

A bank transfer abroad costs more than the listed fee. On top of the transfer fee, banks in between may take a cut, and when currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

Many banks rarely show the margin on the rate separately – you only notice it if you compare. A simple test: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers often use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay lists transfer providers side by side so you can see what actually arrives. Using a transfer service does not require closing your account at Bme Clearing: you simply pay the service from your account.

MEFFESBB or MEFFESBBXXX – which one to use?

A SWIFT code is made up of a few fixed parts: characters one to four identify the bank, the next two give the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. That gives you MEFFESBB for Bme Clearing.

Most banks and apps accept either length. If a form requires eleven characters, use MEFFESBBXXX; if it wants eight, use MEFFESBB.

As a rule the code is written in capitals. Copying the code beats retyping it.