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

SWIFT/BIC codes in United Kingdom

In United Kingdom we have 20757 SWIFT/BIC codes from 4648 financial institutions. You need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly for international transfers, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Pick the bank from the list to view the head office code and its other codes along with tips for payments to and from that bank. The sections below covers how the codes work, the cost of transfers and how to avoid mistakes before a payment.

The British Pound (GBP) and conversion costs

Bank accounts in United Kingdom are typically held in GBP – the British Pound. When you pay money in a different currency, the amount has to be converted at some point.

Which bank converts the payment matters. Check how much GBP arrives with different services; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Exchange rates move during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.

United Kingdom and the SEPA area

United Kingdom is part of the SEPA area. For a regular euro transfer from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN; many banks no longer ask for the BIC.

You will still need the BIC for payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive by the next business day or faster with instant payments. Provided no conversion is involved, a SEPA transfer tends to be inexpensive.

When does money sent to United Kingdom arrive?

How quickly money reaches United Kingdom is determined by several factors: the currency, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Public holidays in United Kingdom or in the sending country add a day or more.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status online.

SWIFT codes in United Kingdom: banks under :letter

This list shows only banks in United Kingdom whose name starts with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The counts in the introduction still cover the whole country, not just this letter.

Many institutions are listed under their legal name, which may start with words like Bank or Banco, so the letter can differ from what you expect. Try the full list for United Kingdom if you are not sure how the name is spelled.

About our data and how to check a code

The most reliable place for the correct BIC remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or extra fees.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on publicly available sources that we update periodically. Even so, banks merge or change codes, so information can be out of date. Treat this list as a starting point. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers.

Be wary of invoices with changed bank details. Before paying, verify a change of bank details through a separate channel, using a number you already had.

Receiving money in United Kingdom from abroad

To receive a transfer from abroad into a United Kingdom account, the person paying you has to have more than the BIC. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your postal address.

Look up your bank in the list on this page, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Some banks also ask for the name and address of your bank.

What lands in your account can be lower than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. For business payments, agree how the fees are split, so nobody is left short.

Most SWIFT codes in United Kingdom: HSBC Bank PLC

HSBC Bank PLC tops our list for United Kingdom in the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of HSBC Bank PLC uses HBUKGB41XXX and that code covers most payments.

How many codes a bank has says something about how it registers branches and services than about how big it is. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code HBUKGB41XXX works for transfers to this bank.

Recognising a SWIFT code from United Kingdom

Every SWIFT/BIC code consists of 8 or 11 characters. First comes four letters for the bank, followed by a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

You can recognise a bank code from United Kingdom by the fifth and sixth characters: they always show the ISO country code of United Kingdom. A code with a different country code come from another country.

The optional last three characters stand for a branch or department; XXX means the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need.

Sending money to United Kingdom for less

An international bank payment to United Kingdom often costs more than you think. On top of the fee, correspondent banks can take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. Check the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites. The difference is your real cost.

Specialist money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients in United Kingdom receive across providers.