SWIFT/BIC codes in Spain: banks starting with I

Finding a SWIFT code in Spain

Our directory covers 581 banks and other institutions in Spain. You will need a SWIFT/BIC code mainly for payments across borders and for payments in a foreign currency.

Look for the recipient’s bank in the list and click through for all codes we have. The sections below explain the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing.

Banks in Spain starting with :letter

This page only shows the banks in Spain beginning with :letter in alphabetical order. The totals on this page cover every bank we list and not only this letter.

If the bank you need does not appear here, check the full list – the registered name can differ from the name people use. Use the full list for Spain if you do not know the exact name.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Spain

Have the recipient copy their bank details directly from a recent statement. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and check them regularly. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes. For a payment of any size, confirm the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is not a bank and has no link to the banks in this list.

Be wary of invoices with changed bank details. Before paying, verify a change of bank details through a separate channel.

Which bank in Spain has the most codes?

Among the 581 institutions we list, BNP Paribas Securities Services, Spain holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Spain. Its main office has PARBESMHXXX and that code covers most payments.

Practice differs in how many codes they register, so the count is not a ranking of size. Making a payment to BNP Paribas Securities Services, Spain? Go with PARBESMHXXX except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Bank accounts in Spain are typically held in EUR, the local currency. Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into EUR before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Which bank converts the money matters: every bank has its own margin. Compare what EUR the recipient gets with several services before choosing one. With bigger transfers, even a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

What a transfer to Spain really costs

When you send money to Spain through a regular bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. Check the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites.

Specialised transfer providers frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares these providers next to each other so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient before you commit.

Incoming international payments in Spain

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Find your bank in the list on this page. Certain sending banks may also want the name and address of your bank.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank. On invoices, state how the fees are split, so nobody is left short.

Paying in euros to Spain

Because Spain is part of the SEPA zone, a euro transfer to an account in Spain usually requires just the IBAN. Many banks no longer ask for the BIC in that case.

The BIC still matter for payments in other currencies and when the money comes from outside SEPA. Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive by the next business day or faster with instant payments. Fees are generally low as long as no currency is converted; the conversion is where it gets expensive.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Spain

Bank identifier codes use the same format worldwide: eight characters. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six are the country code and the next two mark the location.

Whatever the bank, every code from Spain share the same country code in positions five and six, namely the ISO code of Spain. If the country letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else – worth double-checking.

An 11-character code ends in three characters for a branch. Choose a branch code only when the recipient explicitly gives you one; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Tracking a payment to Spain

An international transfer to Spain typically takes anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Public holidays in either country add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact the sending bank and ask for the status or the UETR – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Specialist transfer services usually show tracking in their app so you can follow the payment.