HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb)

HBUKGB4B and HBUKGB4BXXX are two ways of writing the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both lead to HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) in London. A BIC does one job: it ensures that a cross-border transfer ends up at the right bank. In practice you mostly come across it on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and on the account details of HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) customers.

This page is meant to help people who pays into an account at HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb). The BIC names an institution, not a specific account, which is why you always need the account number too.

What a transfer from HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) abroad really costs

The price of an international transfer is made up of several parts – not just the fee on your screen. You pay the fee for the transfer itself, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate when the money is converted.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: the bank converts using an exchange rate that includes a margin. An easy check: put the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay lists transfer providers side by side so you can see what actually arrives for the same amount sent. Using a transfer service does not require leaving HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb): you simply pay the service from your account.

Paying into HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) in GBP

Most accounts at HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) are typically held in GBP, the local currency. If you send another currency gets converted at some point. Every conversion costs the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Who does the conversion has an effect on the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Transferring the money directly in GBP often avoids a second conversion by HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) – as long as your own rate is good.

The GBP rate changes constantly. With bigger transfers, even seemingly small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

Before you send: check the HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) code

The best place to find the right code remains 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 HBUKGB4B or HBUKGB4BXXX, do not guess.

If the code is wrong, the transfer might be delayed, bounce back or cost extra. Do not forget the account number: an error there can be more difficult to correct than a wrong BIC.

Most online banking apps check the format of an IBAN and sometimes look up the BIC automatically, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. If your bank offers it, a payee name check before sending gives an extra layer of safety. For a first payment, many people start with a small amount first and wait for confirmation.

Euro transfers to HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb): is a BIC needed?

United Kingdom is part of the SEPA area, where euro transfers follow common rules. When you send euros from another SEPA country, the IBAN is usually enough.

You will still need HBUKGB4BXXX for payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. If your banking app has a field for the BIC regardless, adding HBUKGB4B does no harm.

Instant payments in euros are increasingly supported across SEPA – whether HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) offers them for your account is worth checking. Provided the payment stays in euros, the transfer tends to be cheap; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

8 or 11 characters: HBUKGB4B versus HBUKGB4BXXX

A SWIFT code is built from a few fixed parts: the first four letters identify the bank, the next two give the country and the two after that indicate the location. Together, those parts make up HBUKGB4B – the version you usually see online.

The long version adds a three-character extension that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office, so HBUKGB4BXXX and HBUKGB4B are interchangeable.

Type the code in one piece, in capitals and without spaces. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 or I versus 1, a common source of typos.

Receiving money from abroad at HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb)

If you expect a payment from another country, send the payer a complete set of details. What they need is: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, HBUKGB4BXXX or HBUKGB4B and in many cases your postal address.

Their bank might request the bank address of HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb), in which case the London head office is the usual answer. A mistake in your account number can be more trouble than you might think.

The amount you receive can be less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank – the price list of HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) tells you what applies. On invoices, you can state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

A note on our data

This directory is based on public sources and we update it periodically. Still, banks merge or retire codes, so information can be out of date. The number of codes on this page reflect our own data.

Before a payment that matters, always check the code with HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) or with the recipient. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers and not part of HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb). If you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a short note via the contact page.

HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb): head office code versus branch codes

HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb) has 17 different SWIFT/BIC codes. Only one is the head office code, HBUKGB4BXXX; the rest belong to branches, and sometimes internal departments.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code HBUKGB4BXXX is the right choice. Just use a branch code when your contact gives you that exact code, for example on a letter or invoice.

The safest approach is to take the code directly from the account holder’s invoice. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Fraudsters regularly use fake invoices with changed bank details. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine.

Before paying, confirm changed bank details by phone on a number you know, not one from the message. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet tend to be red flags. Already paid? Contact the bank you paid from straight away and ask them to start a recall; also report it to the police.

Recipients are targeted too: one known trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof; only your own account shows what has arrived.

When will the money arrive at HSBC Bank PLC (Rfb)?

There is no fixed delivery time for every transfer: some land the same day or the next. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country can add a day or more. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments can also cause some delay, even when all details are correct.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Each payment carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Money transfer services often show a status online showing how far the money has got.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid should contact the bank that sent it. As a recipient, it helps to look at your account to see a slightly lower amount.