Citibank, N.a. SWIFT/BIC code

CITIAEA1 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Citibank, N.a.

The short code CITIAEA1 and the full code CITIAEA1XXX identify the same bank: Citibank, N.a.. Banks worldwide use BIC codes to direct international transfers to the correct institution. You will need it mainly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

On this page we explain how the code is put together, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from Citibank, N.a. requires. Keep in mind that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the account: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) and conversion costs

The currency in United Arab Emirates is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED). Money sent in a different currency will be exchanged into AED – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Each conversion eats into the amount, even when no fee is shown.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Sending the money directly in AED usually avoids an extra conversion, provided the rate you get is fair.

Exchange rates move all the time – some services let you fix a rate in advance. On larger amounts, a seemingly small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

How up to date is this code?

We gather bank codes using public sources and check them regularly. Still, banks merge or change codes. Counts and locations are from our directory and are not confirmed by Citibank, N.a..

Treat the information here as a helpful check, and let the details from the recipient or Citibank, N.a. have the final say. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Citibank, N.a.. Found an error? Tell us through the contact page.

What to give a sender who pays you at Citibank, N.a.

To receive an international payment at Citibank, N.a., the person paying you has to have not just the SWIFT code. In practice that means: your full name as registered with Citibank, N.a., your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code CITIAEA1XXX and usually your postal address.

The sender’s bank might also ask for the bank address of Citibank, N.a., in which case the Abu Dhabi head office is the usual answer. Check every detail before you send them.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank; check the price list of Citibank, N.a.. For business payments, you can state who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

CITIAEA1 or CITIAEA1XXX – which one to use?

A SWIFT code is made up of fixed blocks: the first four letters stand for the bank, characters five and six give the country and the two after that indicate the location. For Citibank, N.a., that core is CITIAEA1.

The 11-character version has three more characters that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, they simply mean the head office, which is why CITIAEA1XXX and CITIAEA1 lead to the same place.

As a rule the code is typed in capitals and without spaces. Pasting the code beats retyping it, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Is CITIAEA1 still correct? How to check

The best place to find the right code is paperwork issued by the bank like a bank statement or the account page in online banking. If the code you have differs from CITIAEA1 or CITIAEA1XXX, stop and ask: check with the recipient or with Citibank, N.a. directly.

Errors in the BIC tend to be annoying more than fatal. An error 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 sometimes look up the BIC automatically. More and more banks check the payee name with the account; take any warning seriously. For a first payment, many people start with a small amount first.

Citibank, N.a.: head office code versus branch codes

Citibank, N.a. has 4 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 3 locations. One of them is the head office code; the others belong to branches, and sometimes internal departments.

In most cases there is no need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to CITIAEA1XXX reach Citibank, N.a. without problems. A branch code only makes sense if the recipient’s bank specifically mentions it, which is more common for business accounts and trade services.

The best way is to copy the code straight from the recipient’s statement. Codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Sending money abroad from Citibank, N.a.

If you transfer money to another country via Citibank, N.a., the fee you see is rarely all of the cost. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: the bank converts at a rate with a margin built in. An easy check: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services frequently use rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives with different services. You can still use your account at Citibank, N.a. as the source of the money.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Citibank, N.a.

There is no single answer for every transfer: some arrive the same day or the next, others take several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also cause a delay, even when all details are correct.

If the money seems late, contact the sending bank about the status or the UETR; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Save your transfer receipt – you will need it for any trace request.

Only the sending bank is able to request a trace; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. On the receiving end, you can look at your account for a partial amount.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

A common scam goes like this: an email arrives with a message claiming that a company has new bank details. The fact that CITIAEA1 exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine.

Always confirm a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Pressure or requests to keep it quiet are red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. When money was sent to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Scams can also work the other way: someone sends too much and wants you to return the extra via a different route. Wait until the money is actually in your account.