Cater Allen Limited SWIFT/BIC code

Cater Allen Limited SWIFT code: CATEGB21

The 8-character code CATEGB21 and the 11-character code CATEGB21XXX identify one and the same institution: Cater Allen Limited, with its head office in Bradford. The code has a single purpose: it makes sure that a cross-border transfer reaches the right bank. It comes up mostly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

Below you will find the practical side: money coming in from abroad, sending money abroad and how to check the code before you hit send. Remember that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the person: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

Before you send: check the Cater Allen Limited code

The most reliable place for the right code is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. When the code you were given does not match CATEGB21 or CATEGB21XXX, stop and ask – contact the recipient or Cater Allen Limited.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or end up costing more – sometimes after weeks of searching. An error in the account number can be more serious because it can reach the wrong person.

Many banking apps check the structure of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically – that confirms the format, not the owner. If your bank offers it, a name check on the recipient gives an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first is worth it for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Paying Cater Allen Limited in euros within SEPA

Inside SEPA, euro payments to Cater Allen Limited use the same rules and in most cases need only the IBAN. A field for the BIC is usually optional or missing in that case.

The BIC does come into play for payments in other currencies, and for transfers from outside SEPA. If your banking app asks for the BIC regardless, adding CATEGB21 does no harm.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land within one business day; instant payments are faster if both banks offer them. Provided no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer is inexpensive; it is the conversion that costs money.

CATEGB21 or CATEGB21XXX – which one to use?

The layout of every SWIFT code never changes: four characters for the institution, a two-letter country code and two for the location. Together, those parts form CATEGB21 – the version you usually see online.

XXX at the end of CATEGB21XXX does not stand for a placeholder or a mistake: it stands for the main office of Cater Allen Limited. Some banking apps ask for 11 characters, in which case you simply enter XXX after CATEGB21.

Do not add spaces or dashes when you type CATEGB21 or CATEGB21XXX. Copying the code is safer than typing it by hand.

When will the money arrive at Cater Allen Limited?

There is no fixed answer for every transfer: some arrive within a day while others need several business days. Payments made late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday usually start the next business day. Sometimes a bank wants to know what the payment is for.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact your bank for the status and the transaction reference. Specialist transfer services usually provide tracking online so you can see where the money has got.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid needs to contact their own bank. On the receiving end, it helps to check your account for a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

Sending GBP to Cater Allen Limited

The currency in United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into GBP on its way to Cater Allen Limited – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Every conversion eats into the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference: every bank has its own margin. Compare what GBP arrives with several services.

The rate for GBP fluctuates constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. For recurring payments, small differences in the rate make a real difference over a year.

Sending money abroad from Cater Allen Limited

An international bank payment costs more than the listed fee. There is the transfer fee, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest item, and it is easy to miss. Check the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

Specialist money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay lists transfer providers side by side, showing the amount the recipient gets. You can still keep your account at Cater Allen Limited; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

About this information

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes from publicly available data and check them regularly. Banks reorganise, close branches and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory.

For any payment of any size, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is independent of Cater Allen Limited; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Should you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a short note.

What to give a sender who pays you at Cater Allen Limited

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs several details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC CATEGB21XXX and your address, which some banks require.

Some sending banks want the name and address of Cater Allen Limited; it does no harm to include it. A typo in the IBAN is harder to fix than it looks; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Expect that the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, Cater Allen Limited may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Which of the 2 codes of Cater Allen Limited do you need?

We have 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Cater Allen Limited in 2 cities. Besides the head office code CATEGB21XXX, there are codes for branches, departments or specific services.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code CATEGB21XXX works fine. When you receive a specific code, stick to it rather than replacing it with the head office code.

If you are not sure, ask the person you are paying for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes can change when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Stay wary when a contact unexpectedly asks you to send money to a different account or a bank in another country. The fact that CATEGB21 exists does not mean that the account is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Check changed bank details through a different channel, such as a phone number you already know, never via the email that asked for the change. Be suspicious of urgent requests, unusual wording or a sender address that is slightly off. When money was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams also work the other way: someone sends too much and wants you to refund the extra to a new account. A payment confirmation from the sender proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.