BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich SWIFT/BIC code

BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich SWIFT code: PARBCH21

PARBCH21 and PARBCH21XXX are two spellings of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both lead to BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich in Zurich. A BIC has a single purpose: it ensures that money from abroad reaches the right bank. You will need it mainly when dealing with payments that cross a border.

Further down we go through the practical side: money coming in from abroad, sending money abroad and how to check the code before you confirm a payment. The SWIFT code on its own cannot identify an individual account holder; that is what the account number or IBAN is for.

How to check PARBCH21 before you pay

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code 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 PARBCH21 or PARBCH21XXX, stop and ask – contact the recipient or BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich.

Errors in the SWIFT code are costly more than fatal. Do not forget the account number: a mistake there is harder to correct than a wrong code.

A format check by your bank only confirms that the IBAN is valid. More and more banks check the payee name against the account. For a first payment, some people send a small test amount.

Which of the 3 codes of BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich do you need?

BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich uses 3 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 cities. One of them is the head office code; the others identify branches or departments.

Usually you do not need to look up a branch: transfers addressed to PARBCH21XXX reach BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich without problems. A branch code only makes sense if the account holder explicitly mentions it, which is more common for business accounts and trade services.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient which code their bank gave them. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than PARBCH21XXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Why BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich has an 8- and an 11-character code

The layout of a BIC is always the same: four characters for the institution, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. For BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich, that core is PARBCH21.

XXX at the end of PARBCH21XXX is not a missing value or an error: it indicates the main office of BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich. Some forms insist on 11 characters, and then you can enter XXX behind PARBCH21.

Type the code in one piece, in capitals and without separators. A single character may route the money to another bank, so check it twice.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

This directory draws on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. It is possible that a code here is out of date. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset.

Treat this page as a reference, not as the final word. GoldexPay is not affiliated with BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich, we only compare transfer services. Spotted outdated information? Let us know through the contact page.

Incoming international payments to BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. What they need is: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, PARBCH21XXX and, for some countries, your postal address.

The sender’s bank may also ask for the address of your bank. Check each detail before you send them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

What lands in your account is often less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

Watch out for payment fraud

Be wary if a contact suddenly asks you to send money to another account abroad. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about whether the request is genuine.

Before paying, confirm a change of bank details by phone on a number you know, not one from the message. Urgency and secrecy tend to be warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. Already paid? Call your bank straight away and ask them to try to recall the payment and report the fraud.

Scams also work the other way: someone claims to have sent more than agreed and wants you to refund the extra via a different route. Wait until the money has really arrived.

Do you need PARBCH21 for a SEPA transfer?

Since Switzerland is part of the SEPA zone, a euro payment to BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich from within the SEPA area normally only needs the IBAN. Many banks no longer ask for the BIC in that case.

For anything other than euros and for senders outside SEPA, PARBCH21XXX remains part of the payment details. Some banks and apps still show a field for the BIC out of habit; in that case, enter PARBCH21 or PARBCH21XXX.

Instant payments in euros are widely available across SEPA. Fees for SEPA payments tend to be low.

Paying into BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich in CHF

Switzerland pays in the Swiss Franc (CHF). When you pay another currency gets converted at some point – by your bank, by BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich or by a bank in between. There is rarely a separate charge for the conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. Transferring the money directly in CHF usually prevents an extra conversion, provided the rate you get is fair.

Exchange rates change during the day, and some providers let you lock in a rate. If you pay regularly, small differences in the rate add up over time.

What a transfer from BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich abroad really costs

What you pay for a payment abroad is made up of more than one component. On top of the transfer fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the money changes currency the bank often uses a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

Many banks do not show the margin on the rate as a cost. Check their rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

Money transfer services often offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before your next transfer, it is worth comparing what arrives via GoldexPay. Choosing a specialist does not require leaving BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich – you pay the provider from your own account.

How long does an international transfer to BNP Paribas Securities Services, Paris, Succursale de Zurich take?

An international transfer usually takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Bank holidays in the sending or receiving country can add extra days. Extra checks by one of the banks may also cause some delay, even when all details are correct.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Money transfer services usually provide tracking online so you can see how far the payment is.

A delayed transfer has to be investigated from the sending side. On the receiving end, it helps to check your statements to see a partial amount.