Santander UK PLC SWIFT/BIC code

Santander UK PLC SWIFT code: ABBYGB2L

ABBYGB2L and ABBYGB2LXXX are the short and the long form of the same bank identifier, and both point to Santander UK PLC in Bootle. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to direct international transfers to the correct bank. You will need it mostly when dealing with payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

This page is meant to help people who sends money to an account at Santander UK PLC and wants to get the details right. Remember that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number does that part.

Changed bank details? Be careful

One of the most common tricks goes like this: an email arrives with a message saying that a company now has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account.

Before paying, confirm changed bank details through a phone call. Urgency and secrecy are warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. Acted too fast? Contact the bank you paid from without delay and ask them to start a recall and report the fraud.

Recipients can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference. Wait until the money has really arrived.

International transfers from Santander UK PLC: the real cost

The price of an international transfer has more than one component. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between can deduct a fee, and when the money changes currency, the bank usually applies a rate below the actual market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee: the bank converts using an exchange rate with a margin built in. Check their rate with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares transfer providers next to each other so you can see the amount the recipient gets before you commit. Choosing a specialist does not require closing your account at Santander UK PLC.

ABBYGB2L or ABBYGB2LXXX – which one to use?

A BIC is made up of fixed blocks: characters one to four stand for the bank, the next two give the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. Together, those parts make up ABBYGB2L, the code most people search for.

Most banks and apps accept either length. If a form asks for eleven characters, use ABBYGB2LXXX, otherwise ABBYGB2L is fine.

Enter the code as one block, in capitals and without separators. Look out for O versus 0 or the letter I and the digit 1, a common source of typos.

Receiving money from abroad at Santander UK PLC

For an international payment at Santander UK PLC, the sender needs more than the SWIFT code. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code ABBYGB2LXXX and your address, which some banks require.

It helps to include the bank name and its city as well. Check the details before you send them.

Expect that the incoming amount is below what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments vary per bank. Agree with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

Is ABBYGB2L still correct? How to check

Have the recipient copy the bank details directly from a recent statement. If the code you have does not match ABBYGB2L or ABBYGB2LXXX, stop and ask – contact the recipient or Santander UK PLC.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges along the way. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there can be harder to undo than a wrong code.

Many banking apps check the format of an IBAN and some suggest the matching BIC – that confirms the format, not the owner. Some banks now check the payee name against the account before you confirm. When you pay someone new, some people send a small test amount before sending the rest.

How long does an international transfer to Santander UK PLC take?

There is no fixed delivery time for every transfer: many arrive the same day or the next. Bank holidays in the sending or receiving country add extra days to the journey. Sometimes a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment before releasing it.

If the money is late, ask the sending bank about the status and the transaction reference so they can trace it along the chain. Money transfer services often provide tracking online showing how far the money is.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace or a recall. Request from the sender the payment receipt with the date and reference; that often settles the question quickly.

About this information

The details here come from public sources that we update regularly. Banks reorganise, close branches and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset.

For a payment that matters, always check the BIC with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. GoldexPay is a comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Santander UK PLC. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

United Kingdom uses the British Pound, with the currency code GBP. If you send another currency gets converted at some point. There is rarely a separate line for that conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Which bank converts the payment matters. Transferring the money already in GBP usually avoids a second conversion by Santander UK PLC – as long as your own rate is good.

The rate for GBP changes constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. On larger amounts, even seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Euro transfers to Santander UK PLC: is a BIC needed?

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to Santander UK PLC use the same rules. A field for the BIC is usually optional or missing in that case.

You will still need ABBYGB2LXXX for non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Some forms also show a field for the BIC out of habit; if so, enter ABBYGB2L.

Instant euro transfers are widely supported across SEPA. Provided the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer is cheap; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

Santander UK PLC: head office code versus branch codes

Having 7 codes, Santander UK PLC is one of the banks that use individual codes for branches. The main code remains ABBYGB2LXXX.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code ABBYGB2LXXX works fine. When you receive a branch code, use it as it is rather than replacing it with the head office code.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient which code their bank gave them. Codes are sometimes changed or retired over time.