SWIFT/BIC codes in Spain: banks starting with S

Finding a SWIFT code in Spain

In Spain we have 933 SWIFT/BIC codes from 581 banks. A BIC tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank should receive an international payment.

Look for the bank you need below and open its page for all codes we have. Below the list you can read how a code from Spain is put together, how to send money to Spain at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

Banks in Spain starting with :letter

You are looking at a selection: only banks in Spain with a name starting with :letter. The totals mentioned above still refer to the whole country, not just this letter.

If a bank does not appear here, try the full list. Use the full list for Spain if you do not know how the name is spelled.

Which bank in Spain has the most codes?

Of all banks in Spain, BNP Paribas Securities Services, Spain is listed with the largest number of SWIFT codes. The head office uses PARBESMHXXX.

Banks differ in how many codes they register. Making a payment to BNP Paribas Securities Services, Spain? Go with PARBESMHXXX unless a specific branch code is requested.

Spain and the Euro

The national currency of Spain is the Euro (EUR). Money sent in a different currency is converted into EUR before it reaches the account.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference, because each party uses its own rate. Compare how much EUR the recipient gets with several providers before choosing one. On larger amounts, even a small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

How reliable is this list?

The best place to find the correct BIC is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. If the code you have does not match our list, stop and ask.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on public sources that we update periodically. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes, so information can be out of date. Use our data as a starting point, not as the final word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. We are an independent comparison service, not a bank.

Be wary of payment requests containing a new account – a common fraud method. Before paying, confirm a change of bank details through a separate channel, using a number you already had.

What a transfer to Spain really costs

An international bank payment to Spain often costs rather more than you think. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup when currencies differ.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest part of the cost because it is hidden in the rate. Compare the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites. The difference is your real cost.

Specialist money transfer services frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. On GoldexPay we compare what recipients in Spain receive with different providers, so you can pick the cheapest route.

SEPA transfers to Spain

Inside SEPA, euro payments to Spain use common rules and in most cases need only the IBAN. A field for the BIC is usually optional for those payments.

You will still need a SWIFT code for payments in other currencies or money from outside the SEPA area. SEPA transfers normally land by the next business day. Provided the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer is usually inexpensive.

What the letters in a Spain BIC mean

Every SWIFT/BIC code consists of 8 or 11 characters in a fixed order. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and the next two mark the location.

Whatever the bank, every code from Spain have the same country code in positions five and six, namely the ISO code of Spain. When those two letters do not match Spain, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else – worth double-checking.

The long version ends in three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. Choose a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it.

Receiving money in Spain from abroad

For a transfer from abroad into a Spain account, the person paying you has to have not just the SWIFT code. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Your bank’s code appears in our list. Certain sending banks may also want the name and address of your bank, so keep it at hand.

Expect that the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank; check the price list of your bank. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Transfer times to Spain

An international transfer to Spain typically needs anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Public holidays in either country add extra days.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Every gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Specialist transfer services usually provide tracking in their app so you can follow the payment.