SWIFT/BIC codes in United Kingdom: banks starting with H

Bank SWIFT codes for United Kingdom

In United Kingdom our database holds 20757 SWIFT/BIC codes. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get the money.

Pick a bank below to see the head office code and its other codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Below the list we explain how a code from United Kingdom is put together, how to send money to United Kingdom at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

Most SWIFT codes in United Kingdom: HSBC Bank PLC

Of all banks in United Kingdom, HSBC Bank PLC is listed with the largest number of SWIFT codes. Its head office code is HBUKGB41XXX.

How many codes a bank has says something about how it organises its payments than about its size. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, HBUKGB41XXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

What a sender needs to pay you in United Kingdom

For a transfer from abroad in United Kingdom, the person paying you has to have more than the BIC. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Find the bank in the list above to check its code – your bank statement is the final word. You can add the name and city of your bank.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

Paying in euros to United Kingdom

Inside SEPA, euro transfers to United Kingdom follow the same rules. The BIC field is often optional for those payments.

The BIC does come into play for payments in other currencies. SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day or faster with instant payments. Fees are generally low provided everything stays in euros.

Check the code before you pay

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient. When the code you were given differs from our list, do not guess – contact the recipient or their bank.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on public sources and is updated regularly. Banks reorganise, change names and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. Before any payment of any size, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service for money transfers and not part of any bank listed here.

Be wary of payment requests with a new account – a common fraud method. Before paying, verify changed details by phone, using a number you already had.

Banks in United Kingdom beginning with the letter :letter

This page only shows the banks in United Kingdom beginning with :letter in alphabetical order. The totals mentioned here apply to all 4648 banks.

Many institutions appear under their official name rather than the name on their app or website. Try the full list for United Kingdom when you do not know the exact name.

Sending money to United Kingdom for less

An international bank payment to United Kingdom can cost rather more than you think. There is the transfer fee, possibly fees from correspondent banks and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. An easy check: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services often offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before your next transfer to United Kingdom, it is worth comparing the total cost on GoldexPay.

The structure of a United Kingdom SWIFT/BIC code

A SWIFT code is 8 or 11 characters long. The first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six are the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

You can recognise a code from United Kingdom by the fifth and sixth characters: they always show the ISO country code of United Kingdom. Codes with other letters in that position come from another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The last three characters, if present, identify a specific branch; XXX means the head office. Use a branch code only when the recipient’s bank asks for it.

Sending GBP to United Kingdom

Bank accounts in United Kingdom are typically held in GBP – the British Pound. When you pay money in a different currency, the amount gets converted at some point – by your bank, a bank in between or the recipient’s bank.

Who converts the payment makes a difference. Check what GBP the recipient gets with several providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. With bigger transfers, even a small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Transfer times to United Kingdom

There is no single answer for payments to United Kingdom: some land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Public holidays in United Kingdom or in the sending country add extra days to the journey.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every payment gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services usually show tracking in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.