Bank of Nova Scotia SWIFT/BIC code

What NOSCGB22 means for a payment to Bank of Nova Scotia

If an invoice shows NOSCGB22 or NOSCGB22XXX, you are looking at the identical address for Bank of Nova Scotia in United Kingdom. Banks worldwide use BIC codes to route payments between countries to the right institution. You will need it mainly for transfers between countries or a currency.

On this page we explain how the code means, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from Bank of Nova Scotia requires. The SWIFT code alone does not identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

Watch out for payment fraud

A common scam works like this: you receive a request claiming that a company now has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. That NOSCGB22 is a real code does not mean that the account is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Before paying, confirm changed bank details by phone on a number you know, not one from the message. Be suspicious of urgent requests, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Call the bank you paid from without delay and have them try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to refund the difference to another account. Do not act before the money has really arrived – ask Bank of Nova Scotia if something looks wrong.

Bank of Nova Scotia: head office code versus branch codes

With 3 codes, Bank of Nova Scotia is one of the banks that register individual codes for parts of the organisation. The head office code is NOSCGB22XXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, use NOSCGB22XXX or its short form NOSCGB22. If you have been given a branch code, stick to it instead of swapping it for the head office code.

The safest route is to take the code directly from the account holder’s invoice. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

Accounts at Bank of Nova Scotia are typically held in GBP, the national currency. When you pay another currency it gets converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or Bank of Nova Scotia itself. There is rarely a separate charge for that conversion; it is built into the rate.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives, as rates and margins differ per bank. Sending the money directly in GBP often prevents a second conversion at the receiving end – as long as your own rate is good.

The GBP rate fluctuates throughout the day, so the amount you see is usually only valid for a short time. On larger amounts, even small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

How long does an international transfer to Bank of Nova Scotia take?

There is no fixed delivery time for every transfer: many arrive within a day. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments can also cause some delay, regardless of the details.

If a transfer seems late, contact the sending bank for the status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Specialist transfer services often provide a status online showing where the payment is.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the sender needs to contact the bank that sent it rather than Bank of Nova Scotia. Ask the sender for the payment receipt including the reference.

Paying someone abroad from your Bank of Nova Scotia account

An international bank payment can cost rather more than the fee suggests. There is the fee for the transfer itself, sometimes charges from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest cost because it is hidden in the rate. A simple test: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

Money transfer services often offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares transfer providers next to each other, showing what actually arrives. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Bank of Nova Scotia – you pay the provider from your own account.

SEPA payments and the Bank of Nova Scotia BIC

Since United Kingdom is in SEPA, a euro transfer to Bank of Nova Scotia from within the SEPA area normally requires just an IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC for these payments.

You still need NOSCGB22XXX when sending non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. Some forms still show a field for the BIC out of habit; if so, fill in NOSCGB22.

Instant payments in euros are increasingly available across SEPA. Charges on SEPA payments tend to be low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

What to give a sender who pays you at Bank of Nova Scotia

When you are waiting for money from abroad, send the payer everything they need in one go. In practice that means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code NOSCGB22XXX (or NOSCGB22) and usually your postal address.

It helps to add Bank of Nova Scotia and London too, since some forms ask for it. Check the details before you share them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank – the price list of Bank of Nova Scotia tells you what applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

How to check NOSCGB22 before you pay

Ask the recipient to send you the account details straight from a recent statement. Compare that code with NOSCGB22 on this page and ask if anything does not match.

Errors in the SWIFT code tend to be costly rather than fatal – usually the money comes back, minus fees and time lost. Remember the IBAN: an error there can be more difficult to correct than a wrong code.

An automatic check by your bank only tells you that the IBAN exists, not that it is the right account. If your bank offers it, a payee name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. For a first payment, some people send a small amount first and wait for confirmation.

About this information

This directory draws on public sources. Even so, banks merge or change codes, so information can be out of date. The figures on this page are based on what is in our directory, not official figures from Bank of Nova Scotia.

See the information on this page as a handy check, and let the details from the recipient or Bank of Nova Scotia have the final say. GoldexPay is independent of Bank of Nova Scotia. Should you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a short note.

8 or 11 characters: NOSCGB22 versus NOSCGB22XXX

The structure of every SWIFT code is always the same: a bank code of four letters, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code, plus an optional branch code. The result is NOSCGB22.

Most payment forms accept both lengths. If a form asks for eleven characters, enter NOSCGB22XXX; if it wants eight, use NOSCGB22.

In practice the code is written in capitals and without spaces. Look out for the letter O and the digit 0 or I versus 1, a common source of typos.