Paribas SWIFT/BIC code

Paribas SWIFT code: PARBGBL1

Whether a recipient gives you PARBGBL1 or PARBGBL1XXX, it is the identical identifier for Paribas in United Kingdom. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank should receive the money. In daily life you usually see it on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details that Paribas provides.

On this page we explain what the code is put together, when it matters and what else you need for a transfer to or from Paribas. The BIC names a bank or branch, never a specific account, which is why you always need the account number too.

Paying into Paribas in GBP

United Kingdom uses the British Pound, code GBP. A payment in a foreign currency is converted into GBP – and the bank that does it picks the rate. There is rarely a separate charge for that conversion.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference. Check what GBP arrives with several providers before choosing one.

Rates for GBP change during the day, and some providers let you lock in a rate. With bigger transfers, even seemingly small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

What to give a sender who pays you at Paribas

A sender in another country needs a few details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC PARBGBL1XXX and your address, which some banks require.

The sender’s bank might also ask for the bank address of Paribas; the head office in London is usually fine. Double-check every detail before you share them.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct 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.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Be alert when someone unexpectedly wants you to pay into a different account. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

Check new payment details via a separate channel. Pressure and secrecy tend to be warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. When money was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing – check your own account.

What the XXX in PARBGBL1XXX means

The structure of every SWIFT code never changes: a bank code of four letters, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code, sometimes followed by a branch code. That gives you PARBGBL1.

The full version has a three-character extension for a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office, so PARBGBL1XXX and PARBGBL1 are interchangeable.

Do not add spaces when you enter PARBGBL1. A wrong character can send the money to another bank, so copy it carefully.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Paribas

How fast a payment reaches Paribas is determined by several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Payments made late in the day or on weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Extra checks by one of the banks can also add some delay, even when all details are correct.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR. Keep your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it for any trace request.

A missing payment has to be traced by the sending bank. Ask the sender for the payment receipt; that often settles the question quickly.

Paribas: head office code versus branch codes

Paribas has 2 separate SWIFT/BIC codes. One of them is the head office code; the rest identify branches or departments.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, use PARBGBL1XXX or its short form PARBGBL1. Branch codes are only needed when the account holder specifically asks for it, which is more common for corporate accounts and specialised services.

The safest route is to copy the code straight from the recipient’s invoice. Branch codes are more prone to change than PARBGBL1XXX.

About this information

The details here are taken from publicly available data which we refresh regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. Counts and locations are from our directory.

Treat our data as a starting point, rather than as the last word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Paribas; we are a comparison site for money transfers. If you notice a mistake, we welcome a message via the contact page.

Is PARBGBL1 still correct? How to check

Have the recipient send you the account details straight from their banking app. Check that code against PARBGBL1 on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

Errors in the SWIFT code are costly more than fatal: often the payment comes back, minus fees. Do not forget the IBAN: an error there is more difficult to correct than a wrong BIC.

A format check in your banking app only tells you that the IBAN is valid – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. More and more banks check the name against the account before you confirm; take any warning seriously. When you pay someone new, some people send a small test amount.

International transfers from Paribas: the real cost

The price of a payment abroad is made up of more than one component, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. On top of the transfer fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can take a cut, and if currencies are converted the bank often applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

Banks do not list the margin on the rate separately, but you pay it all the same. An easy check: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialist money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients receive with different services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot. You can always keep your account at Paribas to fund the transfer; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

SEPA payments and the Paribas BIC

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.

Outside the euro and for senders outside SEPA, PARBGBL1XXX or PARBGBL1 is still required. Some forms still ask for the BIC out of habit; in that case, fill in PARBGBL1 or PARBGBL1XXX.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land within one business day; instant payments are faster if both banks offer them. Charges on SEPA transfers are generally low.