National Grid PLC SWIFT/BIC code

National Grid PLC SWIFT code: NGRDGB2L

The 8-character code NGRDGB2L and the 11-character code NGRDGB2LXXX identify the same bank: National Grid PLC. Banks worldwide use these codes to route international transfers to the right bank. In practice you mostly come across the code on invoices from abroad, in your banking app and in the bank details that National Grid PLC provides.

On this page you can read how the code is put together, when it matters and which other details you need for a transfer to or from National Grid PLC. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify an individual account holder; for that you need the IBAN or account number .

How up to date is this code?

The codes here are taken from public sources. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes, so information can be out of date. The figures we show reflect our own data.

For any payment of any size, always confirm the code with National Grid PLC or with the recipient. GoldexPay is independent of National Grid PLC, we only compare transfer services. If you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a short note via the contact page.

How to check NGRDGB2L before you pay

The most reliable place for the correct BIC remains paperwork issued by the bank. Compare it against NGRDGB2L here and ask if anything does not match.

With a wrong code, the payment might be delayed, bounce back or end up costing more. Do not forget the IBAN: an error there is more difficult to correct than a wrong BIC.

Most online banking apps check the structure of IBANs, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. Where available, a payee name check before sending gives extra certainty. Sending a small amount first is a sensible step for a large first payment.

Do you need NGRDGB2L for a SEPA transfer?

United Kingdom is part of the SEPA area, where euro transfers follow common rules. For a regular euro transfer within SEPA, the IBAN is usually enough; many banks no longer ask for the BIC.

A SWIFT code like NGRDGB2L still come into play for payments in other currencies, and for transfers from outside SEPA. If a payment form asks for the BIC anyway, entering NGRDGB2L is fine.

Instant payments in euros have become widely available within SEPA. Provided no currency is converted, the transfer is cheap; it is the conversion that costs money.

Paying someone abroad from your National Grid PLC account

What you pay for a payment abroad is made up of several parts. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

Banks do not list their exchange rate markup as a cost, but you pay it all the same. 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 turns out to be cheaper than a bank. GoldexPay compares these services next to each other, showing what actually arrives. Using a transfer service does not require closing your account at National Grid PLC: you simply pay the service from your account.

National Grid PLC: head office code versus branch codes

Our database contains 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for National Grid PLC. Besides the head office code NGRDGB2LXXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

In most cases you do not need to pick a branch: payments addressed to NGRDGB2LXXX reach National Grid PLC without problems. Branch codes are only needed when the account holder explicitly mentions it, which is more common for business accounts and trade services.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient which code their bank gave them. Branch codes are more likely to change than NGRDGB2LXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Why National Grid PLC has an 8- and an 11-character code

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. Combined, these eight characters form NGRDGB2L.

Many banks and apps accept either length. If yours requires eleven characters, use NGRDGB2LXXX.

Do not add spaces when you enter NGRDGB2L. A single letter can send the money to a different institution, so copy it carefully.

Incoming international payments to National Grid PLC

To receive an international payment at National Grid PLC, the person paying you needs more than the BIC. What they need is: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, NGRDGB2LXXX or NGRDGB2L and often your postal address.

Some banks want the name and address of National Grid PLC in London. A mistake in your account number is harder to fix than it looks.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate applies. On invoices, it is common to agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

When will the money arrive at National Grid PLC?

How quickly a transfer reaches National Grid PLC depends on several factors: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Payments made late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out a business day later. Compliance checks by one of the banks may also cause a delay.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR. Specialist transfer services usually provide tracking online showing how far the money is.

A delayed transfer has to be investigated by the sending bank, using the payment confirmation. Request from the sender a copy of the payment confirmation with the date and reference.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Be wary if a contact suddenly asks you to pay into another account abroad. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account – scammers simply use real codes.

Never rely on contact details from the same email that announces the change. Watch out for urgent requests, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. Acted too fast? Call the bank you paid from without delay and have them try to recall the payment and report the fraud.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference. Wait until the money is actually in your account.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

The currency of United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). If you send money in a different currency has to be converted at some point. Every conversion eats into the amount.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount. Check how much GBP arrives via different providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect.

Exchange rates move during the day. For regular payments, small differences in the rate make a real difference over a year.