Arbuthnot Securities Limited SWIFT/BIC code

ALESGB31 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Arbuthnot Securities Limited

The 8-character code ALESGB31 and the full code ALESGB31XXX identify one and the same institution: Arbuthnot Securities Limited, with its head office in London. A BIC has a single purpose: it makes sure that money from abroad reaches the right bank. In practice you usually come across the code on international invoices, in your banking app and in the bank details of Arbuthnot Securities Limited customers.

This page is meant to help anyone who receives money at an account at Arbuthnot Securities Limited without mistakes. A SWIFT code names a bank or branch, never a specific account, which is why you always need the account number too.

International transfers from Arbuthnot Securities Limited: the real cost

A bank transfer abroad can cost rather more than the listed fee. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when the money changes currency the bank usually uses a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest cost because it is hidden in the rate. A simple test: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services often offer a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Before your next transfer, it is worth to compare the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. Using a transfer service does not mean leaving Arbuthnot Securities Limited.

Receiving money from abroad at Arbuthnot Securities Limited

If you are waiting for a payment from another country, send the payer all details at once. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code ALESGB31XXX and your address.

Their bank may request the bank address of Arbuthnot Securities Limited. Check each detail before you send them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

What lands in your account is often less than the amount sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes and our data may lag behind. Figures such as the number of codes are from our own dataset.

For any payment that matters, always check the BIC with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay has no connection to Arbuthnot Securities Limited; we are a comparison site for money transfers. If you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a message.

Which of the 3 codes of Arbuthnot Securities Limited do you need?

Our directory lists 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for Arbuthnot Securities Limited, spread over 1 cities. Besides the head office code ALESGB31XXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code ALESGB31XXX is the right choice. Branch codes are only needed if the recipient’s bank explicitly mentions it.

Unsure which code to use? Check with the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Arbuthnot Securities Limited. Branch codes can change over time, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Before you send: check the Arbuthnot Securities Limited code

The safest source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient. Check it against ALESGB31 on this page and ask if anything does not match.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees for investigation. Do not forget the account number: a mistake there is harder to correct than a wrong code.

A validity check in your banking app only tells you that the code exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. Where available, a payee name check on the recipient adds extra certainty. Sending a small amount first can be a sensible step for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Euro transfers to Arbuthnot Securities Limited: is a BIC needed?

United Kingdom is part of the SEPA area, the zone for uniform euro payments. When you send euros within SEPA, you normally only need the IBAN.

Outside the euro and for senders outside SEPA, ALESGB31XXX or ALESGB31 is still part of the payment details. If a payment form asks for the BIC regardless, adding ALESGB31 does no harm.

SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Fees for SEPA payments are generally low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

Paying into Arbuthnot Securities Limited in GBP

The local currency in United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). Money sent in a different currency is converted into GBP before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Every conversion eats into something.

Which bank converts the payment makes a difference, because each party uses its own rate. Transferring the amount already in GBP often avoids an extra conversion, provided the rate you get is fair.

Exchange rates change during the day. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate make a real difference over a year.

8 or 11 characters: ALESGB31 versus ALESGB31XXX

A BIC is built from fixed blocks: characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six give the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. Together, these eight characters make up ALESGB31 – the version you usually see online.

Most banks and apps accept both lengths. If a form requires eleven characters, enter ALESGB31XXX, otherwise ALESGB31 is fine.

In practice the code is typed in capitals. A single letter may route a payment to another bank.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Arbuthnot Securities Limited

How quickly a payment arrives at Arbuthnot Securities Limited depends on several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also add a delay, regardless of the details.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often show a status in their app showing how far the money has got.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace or a recall – the recipient’s bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Ask the sender for the payment receipt – it helps your own bank look for the money.

Watch out for payment fraud

Scammers often send fake invoices with new bank details. That ALESGB31 is a real code is no guarantee that the account is legitimate; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Never trust contact details from the same email that announces the change. Watch out for time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. Acted too fast? Contact your bank straight away and ask them to try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to refund the difference. Do not act before the money is actually in your account – ask Arbuthnot Securities Limited if something looks wrong.