Bank of Ceylon SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Bank of Ceylon

The 8-character code BCEYLKLX and the 11-character code BCEYLKLXXXX refer to one and the same institution: Bank of Ceylon. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to direct payments between countries to the right bank. In daily life you mostly come across the code on international invoices, in payment forms and on the account details that Bank of Ceylon provides.

Below we go through the practical questions: receiving money at Bank of Ceylon, paying someone in another country and how to verify the code before you hit send. The BIC identifies an institution, not a specific account; the IBAN or account number does that.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

One of the most common tricks works like this: you receive a request saying that a company now has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. The fact that BCEYLKLX exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine.

Never rely on contact details from the same email that announces the new account. Pressure or secrecy are red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. When a payment was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Scams also work the other way. Someone sends too much and asks you to refund the extra to a new account. Wait until the money is actually in your account – ask Bank of Ceylon if something looks wrong.

When will the money arrive at Bank of Ceylon?

How fast a transfer reaches Bank of Ceylon is determined by several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country can add extra days to the journey. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for.

If a transfer seems late, contact the sending bank about the status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Save your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid should start with the bank that sent it. Request from the sender the payment receipt with the date and reference.

Getting paid from abroad into a Bank of Ceylon account

For a transfer from abroad into your account at Bank of Ceylon, the sender needs not just the SWIFT code. What they need is: your name, account number or IBAN, BCEYLKLXXXX or BCEYLKLX and in many cases your postal address.

The sender’s bank may request the address of your bank. Double-check each detail before you send them.

An incoming payment does not always arrive in full. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank. For business payments, it is common to agree who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

Which of the 8 codes of Bank of Ceylon do you need?

With 8 codes in 3 locations, Bank of Ceylon belongs to the banks that use separate codes for branches. The main code remains BCEYLKLXXXX.

Usually you do not need to look up a branch: transfers addressed to BCEYLKLXXXX reach Bank of Ceylon correctly. Just use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

The best way is to take the code directly from the recipient’s invoice. Branch codes are more likely to be retired than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

Before you send: check the Bank of Ceylon code

The most reliable source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a bank statement or their online banking. When the code you were given does not match BCEYLKLX or BCEYLKLXXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or Bank of Ceylon.

Errors in the SWIFT code tend to be costly rather than fatal. A mistake in the account number can be more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else; check it just as carefully.

Most online banking apps validate the format of IBANs and some suggest the matching BIC, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. Where available, a payee name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. For a first payment, some people send a small test amount.

Sending money abroad from Bank of Ceylon

If you transfer money to another country through Bank of Ceylon, the fee you see is only part of the cost. You pay the fee for the transfer itself, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the exchange rate markup when the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the biggest item even though it is not listed as a fee. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives with different providers, so you can pick the cheapest route. You can still use your account at Bank of Ceylon; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Why Bank of Ceylon has an 8- and an 11-character code

A SWIFT code is built from a few fixed parts: characters one to four stand for the bank, the next two give the country and the two after that mark the location. In this case, the 8-character core is BCEYLKLX.

Many payment forms accept either length. If a form asks for eleven characters, enter BCEYLKLXXXX.

Type the code in one piece, in upper case and without separators, exactly as shown here. Look out for O versus 0 and the letter I and the digit 1, a common source of typos.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is compiled from publicly available sources and we update it periodically. Institutions reorganise, close branches and change codes. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory.

Treat our directory on this page as a helpful check, and let the details from the recipient or Bank of Ceylon have the final say. GoldexPay is a comparison site and not affiliated with Bank of Ceylon. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a short note via the contact page.