Societe Generale London Branch SWIFT/BIC code

SOGEGB22 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Societe Generale London Branch

The 8-character code SOGEGB22 and the 11-character code SOGEGB22XXX identify the same bank: Societe Generale London Branch. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain which institution should receive the money. In daily life you usually see the code on international invoices, in payment forms and on the account details of Societe Generale London Branch customers.

Below we go through the practical side: receiving money at Societe Generale London Branch, paying someone in another country and how to check the code before you hit send. The BIC names a bank or branch, not a specific account, which is why you always need the account number too.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Societe Generale London Branch

How fast a transfer reaches Societe Generale London Branch is determined by several factors: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Weekends and public holidays in either country add a day or more. Sometimes a bank wants to know what the payment is for.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often show a status online so you can see where the money has got.

Only the sending bank can request a trace or a recall. As a recipient, you can check your statements to see a partial amount.

Sending money abroad from Societe Generale London Branch

The price of an international transfer is made up of several parts. There is the fee for the transfer itself, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the exchange rate markup when the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee: many banks convert using an exchange rate with a margin built in. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Money transfer services frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares what recipients receive with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route. You can always keep your account at Societe Generale London Branch to fund the transfer; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

About this information

This directory is based on public sources and we update it periodically. It can happen that information on this page is out of date, for example after a merger. The number of codes we show reflect our own data.

Before a payment of any size, confirm the BIC with Societe Generale London Branch or with the recipient. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Societe Generale London Branch; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Spotted outdated information? Let us know via our contact form and we will look into it.

SEPA payments and the Societe Generale London Branch BIC

Because United Kingdom is in SEPA, a euro transfer into Societe Generale London Branch from within the SEPA area usually only needs the IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC in that case.

You will still need SOGEGB22XXX when sending non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. A few forms also show a field for the BIC; in that case, fill in SOGEGB22.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land by the next business day. As long as no currency is converted, the transfer is cheap.

Paying into Societe Generale London Branch in GBP

United Kingdom pays in the British Pound, with the currency code GBP. If you send another currency it has to be converted somewhere along the way – by your bank, by Societe Generale London Branch or by a bank in between. Every conversion costs something.

Who converts the money makes a difference: every bank has its own margin. Check what GBP the recipient gets with different providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect.

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

Why Societe Generale London Branch has an 8- and an 11-character code

Every SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. Together, these eight characters make up SOGEGB22.

The 11-character version has a three-character extension that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office, so SOGEGB22XXX and SOGEGB22 are interchangeable.

Leave out spaces, dots when you enter SOGEGB22 or SOGEGB22XXX. A single letter can send a payment to another bank, so check it twice.

Incoming international payments to Societe Generale London Branch

For a transfer from abroad at Societe Generale London Branch, the person paying you has to have more than the BIC. What they need is: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, SOGEGB22XXX or SOGEGB22 and, for some countries, your postal address.

Their bank may also ask for the bank address of Societe Generale London Branch. A mistake in your account number can be more trouble than you might think, so copy the details from your online banking.

The amount you receive is often less than the amount sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, a markup on the rate applies. For business payments, it is common to state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Is SOGEGB22 still correct? How to check

The most reliable place for the correct BIC remains a document from the bank itself. Check it against SOGEGB22 here and ask if anything does not match.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may get stuck, be returned or end up costing more, and tracing it can take weeks. An error in the IBAN or account number is more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else, so check that just as carefully.

Most online banking apps validate the format of IBANs – that confirms the format, not the owner. More and more banks compare the name against the account before you confirm; take any warning seriously. Sending a small amount first can be a sensible step for a large first payment.

Societe Generale London Branch: head office code versus branch codes

Our database contains 10 SWIFT/BIC codes for Societe Generale London Branch, spread over 1 locations. Next to the head office code SOGEGB22XXX, you will find codes for branches, departments or specific services.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with SOGEGB22XXX or its short form SOGEGB22. Just use a branch code when the recipient gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

When in doubt, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Branch codes are more prone to be retired than SOGEGB22XXX.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

One of the most common tricks goes like this: an email arrives with a message saying that a supplier now has a new bank account. The fact that SOGEGB22 exists is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is genuine.

Verify new payment details through a different channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, not by replying to the message. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet tend to be warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If money was sent to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

People receiving money are targeted too: a classic trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to refund the difference abroad. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.