Rabobank London SWIFT/BIC code

Rabobank London SWIFT code: RABOGB2L

If an invoice shows RABOGB2L or RABOGB2LXXX, you are looking at the same identifier for Rabobank London in United Kingdom. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to route payments between countries to the correct bank. In daily life you mostly come across it on invoices from abroad, in your banking app and in the bank details of Rabobank London customers.

On this page you can read what the code means, when you need it and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Rabobank London. The BIC names a bank or branch, never a specific account.

How long does an international transfer to Rabobank London take?

There is no single delivery time: many arrive within a day, others take several business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often go out a business day later. Sometimes a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact the sending bank for the status and the transaction reference so they can trace it along the chain. Keep the payment confirmation – you will need it for any trace request.

Only the sending bank is able to request a trace; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation – it helps your own bank look for the money.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Criminals often send fake invoices containing new bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Always confirm a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Urgency and secrecy are warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. When a payment was sent to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud also work the other way. Someone sends too much and wants you to return the difference via a different route. Wait until the money is actually in your account – ask Rabobank London if something looks wrong.

Sending money abroad from Rabobank London

If you transfer money abroad via Rabobank London, the fee you see is rarely all of the cost. On top of the transfer fee, banks in between may take a cut, and if the money changes currency the bank often applies a rate below the actual market rate.

Banks rarely list their exchange rate markup as a cost. An easy check: set the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

Money transfer services often use a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay lists these services side by side so you can see what actually arrives before you commit. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Rabobank London: you simply pay the service from your account.

British Pound (GBP) and conversion costs

The local currency of United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into GBP on its way to Rabobank London. Each conversion eats into the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on how much arrives, as rates and margins differ per bank. In many cases you pay less if you send GBP directly through a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

Rates for GBP move during the day. For regular payments, a slightly better rate make a real difference over time.

RABOGB2L or RABOGB2LXXX – which one to use?

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. In this case, the 8-character core is RABOGB2L.

Most banks and apps work with both lengths. If yours asks for eleven characters, use RABOGB2LXXX.

As a rule the code is written in capitals, without spaces or dashes. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 or the letter I and the digit 1; they are easy to mix up.

A note on our data

The codes on this page come from publicly available data which we refresh regularly. Even so, banks merge or change codes, so information can be out of date. The figures on this page are based on what is in our directory.

Treat this page as a reference, rather than as the last word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Rabobank London. Should you notice a mistake, we welcome a short note.

Getting paid from abroad into a Rabobank London account

To receive an international payment into your account at Rabobank London, the sender has to have not just the SWIFT code. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the BIC RABOGB2LXXX (or RABOGB2L) and sometimes your address.

The sender’s bank might also ask for the bank address of Rabobank London. Double-check the details before you send them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. For business payments, it is common to agree who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

Is RABOGB2L still correct? How to check

The most reliable source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details. When the code you were given differs from RABOGB2L or RABOGB2LXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or Rabobank London.

Mistakes in the BIC are costly rather than fatal – usually the money comes back, minus fees and time lost. Remember the IBAN: an error there is harder to undo than a wrong code.

Many banking apps validate the structure of an IBAN and some suggest the matching BIC. If your bank offers it, a name check on the recipient gives an extra layer of safety. When you pay someone new, some people start with a small amount first before sending the rest.

Euro transfers to Rabobank London: is a BIC needed?

United Kingdom is part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). When you send euros from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN.

For anything other than euros and for senders outside SEPA, RABOGB2LXXX or RABOGB2L remains required. If your banking app asks for the BIC anyway, adding RABOGB2L does no harm.

Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive within one business day; instant payments are faster if both banks offer them. As long as no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer is inexpensive; it is the conversion that costs money.

Head office or branch code at Rabobank London?

Having 3 codes, Rabobank London is one of the banks that register individual codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The main code remains RABOGB2LXXX.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code RABOGB2LXXX works fine. When you receive a specific code, use it as it is rather than swapping it for the head office code.

Not sure which code to use? Check with the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Rabobank London. Branch codes can change over time, so do not rely on old paperwork.