Bhp Billiton Finance PLC SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Bhp Billiton Finance PLC

BHPBGB2L and BHPBGB2LXXX are two spellings of the same bank identifier, and both point to Bhp Billiton Finance PLC in London. The code does one job: it makes sure that money from abroad ends up at the right bank. In practice you usually come across the code on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details of Bhp Billiton Finance PLC customers.

Below you will find the practical side: receiving money at Bhp Billiton Finance PLC, paying someone in another country and how to check the code before you hit send. Keep in mind that the SWIFT code only identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number does that part.

How long does an international transfer to Bhp Billiton Finance PLC take?

An international transfer usually takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Payments made late in the day or on weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also add a delay, regardless of the details.

If a transfer is delayed, ask the sending bank about the tracking status and the transaction reference. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status online so you can see how far the payment is.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the sender should contact the bank that sent it, not the receiving bank. As a recipient, you can check your statements to see a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.

Paying someone abroad from your Bhp Billiton Finance PLC account

When you send money to another country through Bhp Billiton Finance PLC, the visible fee is rarely all of what you pay. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between may deduct a fee, and if the money changes currency, the bank usually uses a rate below the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest item. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate. The difference is your real conversion cost.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. Before your next transfer, it is worth comparing the total cost via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. You can always keep your account at Bhp Billiton Finance PLC to fund the transfer; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The details here are taken from publicly available data which we refresh regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes, so information can be out of date. The figures on this page reflect our own data.

Use our data as a starting point, rather than as the last word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Bhp Billiton Finance PLC. Found outdated information? Tell us through the contact page.

Why Bhp Billiton Finance PLC has an 8- and an 11-character code

The structure of a BIC never changes: four characters for the institution, a two-letter country code and two for the location. Together, these eight characters form BHPBGB2L.

Most banks and apps accept either length. If a form asks for eleven characters, enter BHPBGB2LXXX; if it wants eight, use BHPBGB2L.

Leave out spaces when you enter BHPBGB2L; the code is always written in one block. Pasting the code beats retyping it, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Stay alert when a contact suddenly wants you to pay into another account or a bank in another country. The fact that BHPBGB2L exists is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Always verify a change of bank details through a phone call. Watch out for time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. When a payment was sent to the wrong account, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to refund the difference. Wait until the money has really arrived and check with Bhp Billiton Finance PLC if anything seems off.

Bhp Billiton Finance PLC: head office code versus branch codes

Having 4 codes in 1 locations, Bhp Billiton Finance PLC belongs to the banks that register separate codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The head office code remains BHPBGB2LXXX.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, go with BHPBGB2LXXX. Only use a branch code when your contact explicitly asks for it, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

Unsure which code applies? Ask the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Bhp Billiton Finance PLC. Branch codes are more prone to be retired than BHPBGB2LXXX.

Sending GBP to Bhp Billiton Finance PLC

The national currency in United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into GBP before it reaches the account, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate line for that conversion.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference: every bank has its own margin. Sending the amount directly in GBP often avoids a second conversion – as long as your own rate is good.

Exchange rates move all the time. For regular payments, small differences in the rate make a real difference over a year.

Incoming international payments to Bhp Billiton Finance PLC

To receive an international payment into your account at Bhp Billiton Finance PLC, the sender has to have not just the SWIFT code. That means: your full name as registered with Bhp Billiton Finance PLC, your account number or IBAN, the BIC BHPBGB2LXXX and usually your address.

It helps to include the bank name and London as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. Double-check each detail before you send them.

Expect that the incoming amount is below what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, Bhp Billiton Finance PLC may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. On invoices, you can agree who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

Do you need BHPBGB2L for a SEPA transfer?

Since United Kingdom is part of SEPA, a euro transfer into Bhp Billiton Finance PLC from within the SEPA area usually requires just the IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC for these payments or fill it in for you.

For anything other than euros and for senders outside SEPA, BHPBGB2LXXX remains required. A few forms also show a field for the BIC; in that case, enter BHPBGB2L.

Instant euro transfers have become widely supported within SEPA. Provided the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer tends to be cheap.

How to check BHPBGB2L before you pay

The most reliable source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details. Check it against BHPBGB2L here.

Errors in the SWIFT code tend to be annoying more than disastrous – usually the money comes back, minus fees and time lost. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there can be more difficult to undo than a wrong BIC.

Many banking apps check the format of IBANs and some suggest the matching BIC. Some banks now check the name with the account. Sending a small amount first is worth it for a large first payment.