SWIFT/BIC codes in Ukraine

SWIFT/BIC codes in Ukraine

For Ukraine our database holds 296 SWIFT/BIC codes. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a transfer which institution is meant to get the money.

Each bank is listed with its own page showing its main code and if there are any, branch codes. Below the list we explain how codes from Ukraine are built, how to send money there at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

When does money sent to Ukraine arrive?

A SWIFT payment to Ukraine usually takes one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Payments made late in the day or on weekends and holidays usually start the next business day.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms.

International payments to Ukraine and the BIC

To pay into Ukraine you will almost always need the BIC – Ukraine is not a SEPA country. Without the BIC, most banks will not process the payment at all.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. The receiving bank often provides a list of required details for incoming international payments – follow them exactly. Before it arrives, a transfer can pass through correspondent banks that charge for their part.

The largest SWIFT network in Ukraine: PJSC Cb Privatbank

In our data, PJSC Cb Privatbank has the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Ukraine. Its head office code is PBANUA2XXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

The number of codes says something about how it organises its payments than about its size. If not a branch code is given, PBANUA2XXXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

The structure of a Ukraine SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC codes follow one international format: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. First comes a four-letter bank code, then a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

You can spot a bank code from Ukraine from the fifth and sixth characters – those always form the country code of Ukraine. If those two letters do not match Ukraine, you are looking at a bank somewhere else, so check again.

If the last three are XXX, it means the head office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. Choose a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Ukraine

Have the recipient copy their bank details straight from their online banking. When the code you were given differs from our list, stop and ask: check with the recipient or the bank.

This list is compiled from publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Still, banks merge or retire codes, so information can be out of date. For a payment of any size, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service, not a bank.

Fraudsters regularly send payment requests carrying changed bank details. A valid BIC says nothing about whether a request is genuine.

Sending money to Ukraine for less

When you send money to Ukraine through your bank, the stated fee is only part of what you pay. There is the transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites. The difference is your real cost.

For many routes, a transfer service is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. GoldexPay lists transfer services next to each other, showing what actually arrives in Ukraine for the same amount sent.

What a sender needs to pay you in Ukraine

A sender in another country needs a few details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. In practice that means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your address.

Look up the bank in the list above to check its code. It helps to include the name and city of your bank as well because some forms have separate fields for it.

What lands in your account is often less than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank; check the price list of your bank. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.