Shawbrook Bank Limited SWIFT/BIC code

WWLLGB21 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Shawbrook Bank Limited

WWLLGB21 and WWLLGB21XXX are two spellings of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Shawbrook Bank Limited in Brentwood. Banks worldwide use BIC codes to route payments between countries to the right institution. It comes up mainly for payments that cross a border.

Below we go through the practical side: money coming in from abroad, sending money abroad and how to check the code before you confirm a payment. Remember that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the person: the account number or IBAN does that part.

What a transfer from Shawbrook Bank Limited abroad really costs

A bank transfer abroad costs rather more than the listed fee. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between may take a cut, and when the money changes currency the bank often applies a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

Many banks rarely show their exchange rate markup as a cost, but you pay it all the same. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay lists transfer providers side by side, showing what actually arrives for the same amount sent. You can still keep your account at Shawbrook Bank Limited to fund the transfer, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

How long does an international transfer to Shawbrook Bank Limited take?

There is no single delivery time for international payments: some arrive within a day. Bank holidays in either country can add extra days to the journey. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also add some delay, even when all details are correct.

If a transfer is delayed, ask your bank for the status so they can trace it along the chain. Keep your transfer receipt.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the sender needs to contact their own bank, not the receiving bank. As a recipient, it helps to look at your statements for a partial amount.

Paying Shawbrook Bank Limited in euros within SEPA

Since United Kingdom is part of SEPA, a euro transfer to Shawbrook Bank Limited from another SEPA country normally only needs the IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC for these payments.

For anything other than euros and for senders outside SEPA, WWLLGB21XXX is still required. If a payment form has a field for the BIC anyway, entering WWLLGB21 is fine.

SEPA transfers usually arrive by the next business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Provided no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer tends to be inexpensive; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

What the XXX in WWLLGB21XXX means

A BIC is built from fixed blocks: the first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six give the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. For Shawbrook Bank Limited, that core is WWLLGB21.

XXX at the end of WWLLGB21XXX does not stand for a missing value or an error: it stands for the main office of Shawbrook Bank Limited. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, and then you simply add XXX behind WWLLGB21.

Enter the code as one block, in upper case and without spaces, exactly as shown here. A wrong letter may route the money to a different institution, so copy it carefully.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

United Kingdom pays in the British Pound, with the currency code GBP. Money sent in a different currency will be converted into GBP before it reaches the account. You rarely see a separate charge for that conversion; it is built into the rate.

Who converts the money makes a difference, because each party uses its own rate. In many cases you pay less to send GBP directly through a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert.

Exchange rates change during the day, and some providers let you lock in a rate. For regular payments, small differences in the rate make a real difference over a year.

Incoming international payments to Shawbrook Bank Limited

When you expect a payment from another country, send the payer a complete set of details. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code WWLLGB21XXX and your address.

Certain banks also ask for the address of Shawbrook Bank Limited, so keep it at hand. Check each detail before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Money from abroad will not always arrive for the full amount. Correspondent banks can take a fee, Shawbrook Bank Limited may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.

Head office or branch code at Shawbrook Bank Limited?

With 2 codes, Shawbrook Bank Limited is one of the banks that register individual codes for branches and departments. The head office code remains WWLLGB21XXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with WWLLGB21XXX. Branch codes are only needed if the account holder specifically asks for it, which is more common for corporate accounts and trade services.

Unsure which code to use? Check with the recipient or the bank itself. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than the head office code.

About this information

The codes on this page come from publicly available data. It is possible that information here is out of date, for example after a merger. Counts and locations are from our own dataset and may differ from what Shawbrook Bank Limited publishes.

See our directory on this page as a helpful check. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service for money transfers and not affiliated with Shawbrook Bank Limited. Should you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a message.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Be alert when a contact suddenly wants you to send money to a different account or a bank in another country. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account.

Do not rely on a phone number from the same email that contains the new account. Watch out for time pressure, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. If money has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to refund the difference. Do not act before the money is actually in your account and check with Shawbrook Bank Limited if anything seems off.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Shawbrook Bank Limited

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. Compare it against WWLLGB21 on this page.

An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees. Remember the account number: a mistake there can be harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

A format check by your bank merely confirms that the code is valid – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. Some banks now compare the payee name against the account. For a first payment, many people start with a small amount first.