Bank of Montreal SWIFT/BIC code

What BOFMGB2X means for a payment to Bank of Montreal

BOFMGB2X and BOFMGB2XXXX are two spellings of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Bank of Montreal in London. The code 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 payment forms and on the account details of Bank of Montreal customers.

Below you will find the practical questions: money coming in from abroad, sending money abroad and how to verify the code before you hit send. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify an individual account holder; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

Paying Bank of Montreal in euros within SEPA

Inside SEPA, euro payments to an account in United Kingdom follow the same rules. The BIC field is often optional in that case.

For anything other than euros and from non-SEPA countries, BOFMGB2XXXX is still required. Some forms also ask for the BIC; in that case, fill in BOFMGB2X or BOFMGB2XXXX.

SEPA transfers normally land by the next business day; instant payments are faster if both banks offer them. As long as no currency is converted, the transfer is cheap.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Bank of Montreal

The best place to find the right code is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. Check that code with BOFMGB2X on this page.

Errors in the BIC are costly more than disastrous – usually the money comes back, minus fees and time lost. An error in the IBAN or account number is a bigger problem, so check that just as carefully.

A format check in your banking app merely confirms that the code exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. More and more banks check the name against the account – do not ignore a mismatch warning. Sending a small amount first is worth it for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

A note on our data

The details on this page are taken from publicly available data that we update regularly. It is possible that a code here is no longer current after a merger or reorganisation. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory, not official figures from Bank of Montreal.

See the information here as a helpful check, and let the details from the recipient or Bank of Montreal have the final say. GoldexPay is independent of Bank of Montreal; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message.

What a transfer from Bank of Montreal abroad really costs

What you pay for a payment abroad is made up of several parts – not just the fee on your screen. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between may deduct a fee, and if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest item even though it is not listed as a fee. Check their rate against the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Specialist money transfer services frequently use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives across services, so you can pick the cheapest route. Using a transfer service does not require closing your account at Bank of Montreal: you simply pay the service from your account.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Be wary when a contact suddenly wants you to pay into a different account abroad. That BOFMGB2X is a real code does not mean that a request mentioning it is legitimate; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Never rely on a phone number in the same message that contains the change. Pressure and secrecy tend to be red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. If a payment has already gone to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Fraud also target the receiver: someone sends more than agreed and wants you to refund the difference. Do not act before the money is actually in your account and check with Bank of Montreal if anything seems off.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

United Kingdom uses the British Pound. If you send money in a different currency it gets converted at some point – by your bank, by Bank of Montreal or by a bank in between. Every conversion costs something – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Who converts the payment makes a difference: every bank has its own margin. Compare what GBP the recipient gets via different services before choosing one.

The rate for GBP changes constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. On larger amounts, even small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

How long does an international transfer to Bank of Montreal take?

How fast a transfer reaches Bank of Montreal depends on several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Transfers sent late in the day or on weekends and holidays often go out a business day later. Sometimes a bank asks what the payment is for before releasing it.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Each payment gets a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Specialist transfer services usually provide tracking online so you can see where the money has got.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the sender needs to start with the bank that sent it rather than Bank of Montreal. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation – it helps your own bank look for the money.

Why Bank of Montreal has an 8- and an 11-character code

A SWIFT code is built from a few fixed parts: characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six show the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. That gives you BOFMGB2X, the short form of the code.

The 11-character version has three more characters that identify a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, the code points to the head office, so BOFMGB2XXXX and BOFMGB2X are interchangeable.

Type the code as one block, in capitals and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Pasting the code is safer than typing it by hand.

Head office or branch code at Bank of Montreal?

We have 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Bank of Montreal. Next to the head office code BOFMGB2XXXX, you will find codes for regional offices and specialised units.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code BOFMGB2XXXX works fine. Branch codes are only needed when the recipient’s bank specifically asks for it.

The best way is to take the code directly from the account holder’s statement. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time.

Getting paid from abroad into a Bank of Montreal account

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for a few details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC BOFMGB2XXXX (or BOFMGB2X) and, often, your postal address.

Some sending banks want the bank’s address in London; it does no harm to include it. Check every detail before you send them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

The amount you receive can be less than what was sent. Charges on incoming payments vary per bank – the price list of Bank of Montreal tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.