B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. SWIFT/BIC code

B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. SWIFT code: BATSGB2L

The short code BATSGB2L and the 11-character code BATSGB2LXXX identify one and the same institution: B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C., with its head office in London. The code has a single purpose: it ensures that a cross-border transfer reaches the right bank. In daily life you mostly come across it on international invoices, in your banking app and in the bank details of B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. customers.

Below you will find the practical side: receiving money at B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C., paying someone in another country and how to verify the code before you confirm a payment. The BIC names an institution, not a specific account, which is why you always need the account number too.

Which of the 5 codes of B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. do you need?

We have 5 SWIFT/BIC codes for B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. in 1 places. Besides the head office code BATSGB2LXXX, there are codes for individual branches and departments.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code BATSGB2LXXX works fine. A branch code only makes sense if the recipient’s bank explicitly asks for it, which is more common for corporate accounts and specialised services.

When in doubt, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

How up to date is this code?

We collect bank codes using publicly available data and update our list from time to time. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. Figures such as the number of codes are from our directory.

Treat our data as a reference, not as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service and not affiliated with B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C.. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message via the contact page.

Before you send: check the B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. code

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a bank statement or their online banking. If the code you have does not match BATSGB2L or BATSGB2LXXX, stop and ask: check with the recipient or with B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. directly.

With a wrong code, the payment might be delayed, be returned or cost extra, and tracing it can take weeks. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is more serious; check it just as carefully.

Most online banking apps check the structure of an IBAN and some suggest the matching BIC. More and more banks compare the payee name with the account; take any warning seriously. Sending a small amount first is a sensible step for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Do you need BATSGB2L for a SEPA transfer?

United Kingdom is part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), where euro transfers follow common rules. When you send euros within SEPA, the IBAN is usually enough.

Outside the euro and for senders outside SEPA, BATSGB2LXXX or BATSGB2L remains required. If a payment form asks for the BIC anyway, adding BATSGB2L does no harm.

SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day. Fees for SEPA transfers are generally low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

Paying someone abroad from your B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. account

When you transfer money to another country through B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C., the visible fee is only part of what you pay. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

The real cost is often in the rate: the bank converts using an exchange rate with a margin built in. An easy check: put the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares these services side by side so you can see what actually arrives before you commit. You can still keep your account at B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C.; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

Most accounts at B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. are typically held in GBP, the national currency. A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into GBP on its way to B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C.. You rarely see a separate line for the conversion; it is built into the rate.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives. Compare what GBP the recipient gets with several services before choosing one.

The rate for GBP fluctuates constantly. With bigger transfers, a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

Watch out for payment fraud

One of the most common tricks goes like this: you receive a message saying that a contact now has new bank details and that the next payment should go there. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine.

Never rely on a phone number in the same message that contains the change. Be suspicious of urgent requests, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. When money has already gone to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams can also target the receiver. Someone sends too much and wants you to refund the difference to a new account. Wait until the money has really arrived – ask B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. if something looks wrong.

BATSGB2L or BATSGB2LXXX – which one to use?

A BIC is made up of a few fixed parts: the first four letters identify the bank, the next two show the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. The result is BATSGB2L, the short form of the code.

XXX at the end of BATSGB2LXXX does not stand for a placeholder or an error: it indicates the main office of B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C.. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, in which case you can enter XXX behind BATSGB2L.

As a rule the code is written in capitals. Pasting the code is safer than typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.

Receiving money from abroad at B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C.

For an international payment at B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C., the person paying you has to have not just the BIC. The basics are: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, BATSGB2LXXX or BATSGB2L and in many cases your postal address.

The sender’s bank may request the bank address of B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C.; the head office in London is usually fine. Check each detail before you send them.

The amount you receive is often less than what was sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

Tracking a transfer to or from B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C.

How quickly a payment reaches B.a.t. International Finance P.L.C. is determined by several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country add extra days to the journey. Sometimes a bank asks what the payment is for.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each payment carries a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Money transfer services often show tracking online showing how far the money is.

If the money does not arrive after a few business days, the person who paid needs to contact their own bank. Ask the sender for the payment receipt with the date and reference – it helps your own bank look for the money.