SWIFT/BIC codes in United Kingdom: banks starting with C
4,648 banks and financial institutions in United Kingdom with 20,757 SWIFT/BIC codes in total.
How a SWIFT/BIC code from United Kingdom is structured
A SWIFT/BIC code has 8 or 11 characters. Each part has a fixed meaning:
- GLOG Bank code
- 4 letters that identify the bank.
- GB Country code
- 2 letters for the country (ISO 3166).
- 21 Location code
- 2 characters for the city or region of the head office.
- XXX Branch code
- 3 characters for a specific branch. XXX means the head office.
United Kingdom: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes
In United Kingdom our database holds 20757 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 4648 institutions. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get an international payment.
Choose a bank below to see its head office code and any branch codes. Further down you can read how codes from United Kingdom are built, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.
Paying in GBP: what conversion costs you
Most accounts in United Kingdom are usually held in GBP. If you send money in a different currency, it has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.
Who converts the money matters: every bank has its own margin. Compare what GBP the recipient gets with several providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. On larger amounts, even a small gap in the rate adds up quickly.
Euro payments to United Kingdom: is a BIC needed?
United Kingdom is part of the SEPA area. When you send euros within SEPA, you normally only need the IBAN.
The BIC does come into play for payments in other currencies and for transfers from outside SEPA. Instant payments in euros have become widely available across SEPA – check whether your bank supports them. Provided no conversion is involved, the transfer tends to be cheap.
Filter: banks in United Kingdom with :letter
You are looking at a filtered list: just banks in United Kingdom whose name begins with :letter. The totals mentioned here apply to all 4648 banks, not just the ones under :letter.
If a bank is missing here, try the full list. The complete list remains one click away if you cannot find the bank here.
Verifying a SWIFT code from United Kingdom
The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. A wrong code can cause a delay, a returned payment or extra fees.
The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources and is updated regularly. Banks reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Treat this list as a reference rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is not a bank.
Fraudsters often use payment requests carrying new bank details. A valid BIC says nothing about whether a request is genuine – scammers use the codes of real banks.
HSBC Bank PLC and its SWIFT codes
HSBC Bank PLC tops the list of United Kingdom banks in the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of HSBC Bank PLC uses HBUKGB41XXX and that code covers most payments.
A large number of codes usually means separate codes for branches, departments or services – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not the recipient asks for a branch, HBUKGB41XXX is fine for a payment to HSBC Bank PLC.
Transfer times to United Kingdom
There is no fixed answer for payments to United Kingdom: many land within a day, others take several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday usually start the next business day.
Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every payment gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Keep your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.
Receiving money in United Kingdom from abroad
A sender in another country needs several details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. Share your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.
Your bank’s code appears in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. Certain sending banks also want your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.
Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank. For business payments, agree how the fees are split.
How SWIFT codes from United Kingdom are built
A BIC is either 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. First comes four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and two characters for the location.
Whatever the bank, every code from United Kingdom have the same country code in positions five and six: the ISO code of the country. If the country letters do not match United Kingdom, you are looking at a bank in another country, so check again.
An 11-character code ends in three characters for a branch. Choose a branch code just if the recipient’s bank asks for it.
What a transfer to United Kingdom really costs
If you send money to United Kingdom via your bank, the stated fee is rarely all of the cost. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent banks can deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.
The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.
Specialised transfer providers often use rates closer to the mid-market rate. Before you send money to United Kingdom, take a minute comparing what arrives via GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.
Frequently asked questions
How many banks in United Kingdom have a SWIFT/BIC code?
Our directory lists 4,648 banks and financial institutions in United Kingdom with 20,757 SWIFT/BIC codes.
Which bank in United Kingdom has the most SWIFT codes?
HSBC Bank PLC has the most codes: 3591 in our database. The head office uses HBUKGB41XXX.
How do I find the right SWIFT code for a bank in United Kingdom?
Ask the recipient or look up the bank in the list on this page. If no branch is specified, the head office code (XXX) is the safe choice.
How long does a transfer to United Kingdom take?
SEPA payments usually arrive within one business day. Other currencies take 2–4 business days.
Do I need a SWIFT code to send money to United Kingdom?
For euro transfers usually not: United Kingdom is part of SEPA, so the IBAN is enough. For other currencies you need the SWIFT/BIC code.
Source: listbase-org SWIFT/BIC database (MIT licence), updated monthly. Always verify the code with the recipient or their bank.