SWIFT/BIC codes in Timor-Leste

SWIFT/BIC codes in Timor-Leste

In Timor-Leste we have 5 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 5 banks. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a transfer which institution is meant to get the money.

Look for the bank you need in the list and open its page to see all codes we have and the details a transfer needs. The rest of this page explain the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing before a payment.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Timor-Leste

Ask the recipient to copy the account details directly from their online banking. If the code you have differs from the code listed here, stop and ask: check with the recipient or the bank.

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and update them from time to time. Still, banks merge or change codes and our data may lag behind. Treat this list as a starting point. We are a comparison site, not a bank.

Watch out for invoices containing changed bank details, especially when they come by email. Always verify a change of bank details by phone on a number you know.

Paying a bank in Timor-Leste from abroad

To pay into Timor-Leste you will usually need a SWIFT/BIC code. Without it, your bank will not process the payment.

Not all countries use the IBAN – where there is none, the local account number is enough. Check with the recipient which details their bank needs for payments from abroad – many banks give clear instructions for this. International transfers sometimes go via one or more intermediary banks and fees can be taken along the way.

Sending money to Timor-Leste for less

A bank transfer to Timor-Leste often costs rather more than the fee suggests. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent banks can take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate.

Money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients in Timor-Leste receive with different services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group LTD and its SWIFT codes

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group LTD leads the list for Timor-Leste when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its main office has ANZBTLDIXXX and that code covers most payments.

How many codes a bank has says more about how it registers branches and services than about how big it is. If not the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code ANZBTLDIXXX works for a payment to Australia and New Zealand Banking Group LTD.

Timor-Leste and the US Dollar

Timor-Leste uses the US Dollar, with the currency code USD. When you pay another currency, it has to be converted at some point – by your bank, a bank in between or the recipient’s bank.

Who converts the payment makes a difference. Compare what USD arrives via different providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Rates for USD change during the day.

Incoming international payments in Timor-Leste

A sender in another country needs several details about your account. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address.

The code of your bank is in the list on this page. You can add your bank’s name and city, since some payment forms ask for it.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. On invoices, state who bears the costs.

Transfer times to Timor-Leste

How quickly money reaches Timor-Leste is determined by a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Public holidays in either country add a day or more.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact the sending bank. Keep your transfer receipt – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Timor-Leste

Bank identifier codes use one international format: eight characters. First comes four letters for the bank, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

You can recognise a bank code from Timor-Leste by letters five and six: they always show the ISO country code of Timor-Leste. If those two letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank in another country – worth double-checking.

The long version adds a branch code. In most cases the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.