First Commercial Bank SWIFT/BIC code

What FCBKTWTP means for a payment to First Commercial Bank

FCBKTWTP and FCBKTWTPXXX are two ways of writing the same bank identifier, and both point to First Commercial Bank in Taipei. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment which institution is meant to get the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. It comes up mostly when dealing with payments that cross a border or a currency.

Further down we go through the practical side: receiving money at First Commercial Bank, paying someone in another country and how to check a SWIFT code before you confirm a payment. The BIC names an institution, not a single account.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and update our list regularly. It can happen that information here is out of date. The number of codes on this page are based on what is in our directory, not official figures from First Commercial Bank.

Treat our directory here as a handy check and rely on the recipient or First Commercial Bank for the final confirmation. We are a comparison site and not affiliated with First Commercial Bank. Found outdated information? Let us know via our contact form.

First Commercial Bank: head office code versus branch codes

First Commercial Bank has 6 separate SWIFT/BIC codes. Only one is the head office code, FCBKTWTPXXX; the rest identify branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

In most cases you do not need to look up a branch: transfers addressed to FCBKTWTPXXX reach First Commercial Bank without problems. A branch code only makes sense if the account holder specifically mentions it.

If you are not sure, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Branch codes are more likely to be retired than FCBKTWTPXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

International transfers from First Commercial Bank: the real cost

If you send money abroad from First Commercial Bank, the fee you see is only part of what you pay. On top of the transfer fee, banks in between can take a cut, and when currencies are converted the bank often uses a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest item. Compare their rate against the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service is cheaper than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. Next time you send money, it is worth to compare what arrives on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. You can still use your account at First Commercial Bank.

Verifying the SWIFT code of First Commercial Bank

Have the recipient copy the bank details straight from their banking app. When the code you were given does not match FCBKTWTP or FCBKTWTPXXX, stop and ask.

With a wrong code, the payment may be delayed, be returned or end up costing more, and tracing it can take weeks. Remember the account number: a mistake there is harder to correct than a wrong code.

A validity check in your banking app merely confirms that the code exists. If your bank offers it, a payee name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first can be worth it for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to First Commercial Bank

A SWIFT payment usually needs one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country can add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments can also add some delay, even when all details are correct.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact the sending bank about the status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking online so you can see where the money has got.

The bank that sent the money is able to start an official trace. Ask the sender for the payment receipt – it helps your own bank look for the money.

Watch out for payment fraud

Scammers regularly send fake invoices with changed bank details. That FCBKTWTP is a real code is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Never trust a phone number in the same message that announces the new account. Pressure or secrecy tend to be red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If money was sent to the wrong account, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud can also work the other way. Someone sends more than agreed and asks you to refund the extra. Wait until the money has really arrived – ask First Commercial Bank if something looks wrong.

8 or 11 characters: FCBKTWTP versus FCBKTWTPXXX

Every SWIFT/BIC code starts with the same eight core characters: a four-letter bank code, two letters for the country and a two-character location code. For First Commercial Bank, the 8-character core is FCBKTWTP.

Many payment forms work with either length. If yours asks for eleven characters, enter FCBKTWTPXXX; if it wants eight, use FCBKTWTP.

In practice the code is written in capitals. Copying the code beats typing it by hand, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Receiving money from abroad at First Commercial Bank

When you expect money from abroad, give the sender a complete set of details. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code FCBKTWTPXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Some sending banks also ask for the address of First Commercial Bank. Double-check the details before you share them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

Expect that the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee, First Commercial Bank may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.