Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC SWIFT/BIC code

Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC SWIFT code: GSKFGB2A

If an invoice shows GSKFGB2A or GSKFGB2AXXX, you are looking at the identical address for Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC in United Kingdom. The code does one job: it ensures that an international payment ends up at the right bank. It comes up mainly for transfers between countries or a currency.

This page is meant to help people who receives money at an account at Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC. The BIC identifies an institution, never a specific account.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

The national currency of United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). If you send money in a different currency has to be converted somewhere along the way. There is rarely a separate charge for the conversion; it is built into the rate.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Compare how much GBP the recipient gets with several services.

Exchange rates change all the time, and some providers let you lock in a rate. For regular payments, small differences in the rate add up over a year.

SEPA payments and the Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC BIC

Since United Kingdom is part of the SEPA zone, a euro payment to Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC from within the SEPA area usually only needs an IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC in that case or fill it in for you.

The BIC still come into play for payments in other currencies, and for transfers from outside SEPA. A few forms still ask for the BIC out of habit; in that case, fill in GSKFGB2A.

Instant euro transfers are widely available within SEPA. Fees for SEPA payments tend to be low.

What a transfer from Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC abroad really costs

If you send money abroad from Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC, the visible fee is only part of what you pay. Besides the transfer fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can deduct a fee, and if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest item even though it is not listed as a fee. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the exchange rate. Next time you send money, take a minute to compare the total cost via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. You can still use your account at Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC to fund the transfer, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

How long does an international transfer to Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC take?

There is no fixed delivery time for every transfer: many land the same day or the next while others need several business days. Payments made after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday usually start a business day later. Extra checks by one of the banks can also add some delay, regardless of the details.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask your bank about the tracking status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Keep the payment confirmation.

If the money does not arrive after a few business days, the sender should contact their own bank, not the receiving bank. Ask the sender for the payment receipt.

About this information

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and check our list from time to time. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes, so information can be out of date. The figures on this page are based on our own data and not on information from Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC itself.

Treat this page as a starting point, not as the final word. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site for money transfers and not part of Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC. If you notice a mistake, we welcome a message.

Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC: head office code versus branch codes

With 4 codes, Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC belongs to the banks that use individual codes for branches and departments. The head office code is GSKFGB2AXXX.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, go with GSKFGB2AXXX or its short form GSKFGB2A. Only use a branch code when the recipient explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

The safest approach is to copy the code straight from the account holder’s invoice. Branch codes are more likely to change than GSKFGB2AXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

What to give a sender who pays you at Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for a few details from you. Give them your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code GSKFGB2AXXX and your address, which some banks require.

You can include Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC and its city as well. A mistake in your account number can be harder to fix than you might think, so copy the details from your online banking.

The amount you receive can be less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank. On invoices, you can agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

Is GSKFGB2A still correct? How to check

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a bank statement or their online banking. When the code you were given does not match GSKFGB2A or GSKFGB2AXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC.

An incorrect BIC can cause a delay, a returned payment or extra fees. Do not forget the account number: an error there is harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

A validity check by your bank only confirms that the code exists. If your bank offers it, a payee name check before sending gives an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first is worth it for a large first payment.

8 or 11 characters: GSKFGB2A versus GSKFGB2AXXX

The structure of a BIC never changes: four characters for the institution, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code, sometimes followed by a branch code. Together, those parts form GSKFGB2A – the version you usually see online.

The full version has three more characters for a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, they simply mean the head office, which is why GSKFGB2AXXX and GSKFGB2A lead to the same place.

Type the code in one piece, in upper case and without separators, exactly as shown here. A single character can send a payment to a different institution, so check it twice.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Be alert if a contact unexpectedly asks you to pay into another account or a bank in another country. A correct SWIFT code says nothing about whether the request is genuine: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Before paying, verify a change of bank details through a phone call. Urgency or requests to keep it quiet tend to be warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. When money was sent to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to send back the difference. Wait until the money is actually in your account – ask Glaxosmithkline Finance PLC if something looks wrong.