Swedbank AB SWIFT/BIC code

FORGGB21 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Swedbank AB

FORGGB21 and FORGGB21XXX are the short and the long form of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Swedbank AB in London. A SWIFT code shows the banks handling a payment exactly which bank is meant to get the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. You will need it mainly for payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

On this page you can read how the code means, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from Swedbank AB requires. Keep in mind that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number takes care of that.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Swedbank AB

There is no single delivery time for every transfer: some land within a day. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country can add a day or more to the journey. Sometimes a bank wants to know what the payment is for before releasing it.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi. Each gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status in their app so you can see where the money has got.

If the money does not arrive after a few business days, the person who paid needs to contact their own bank, not the receiving bank. As a recipient, you can look at your statements to see a partial amount.

Sending money abroad from Swedbank AB

An international bank payment costs more than the listed fee. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee: many banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service is less expensive than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. On GoldexPay we compare the amount that arrives across services, so you can pick the cheapest route. You can always keep your account at Swedbank AB as the source of the money, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

How to check FORGGB21 before you pay

Ask the recipient to send you their bank details straight from a recent statement. If the code you have does not match FORGGB21 or FORGGB21XXX, do not guess: check with the recipient or with Swedbank AB directly.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or end up costing more. Remember the account number: a mistake there can be harder to correct than a wrong code.

An automatic check in your banking app only tells you that the code is valid, not that it is the right account. More and more banks check the payee name against the account. For a first payment, many people send a small amount first and wait for confirmation.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

The local currency of United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). Money sent in a different currency is converted into GBP before it reaches the account – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Every conversion eats into something, even when no fee is shown.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on the final amount. Often it is cheaper to send GBP directly through a provider that converts near the mid-market rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert.

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

Getting paid from abroad into a Swedbank AB account

If you are waiting for money from abroad, give the sender everything they need in one go. Share your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, SWIFT code FORGGB21XXX and your address, which some banks require.

It helps to add Swedbank AB and its city as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. Check the details before you share them.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments vary per bank – the price list of Swedbank AB tells you what applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.

Paying Swedbank AB in euros within SEPA

Inside SEPA, euro transfers to Swedbank AB follow common rules. The BIC field is often optional in that case.

You still need FORGGB21XXX for payments in other currencies or money from outside the SEPA area. A few forms also show a field for the BIC out of habit; if so, enter FORGGB21.

Instant euro transfers have become widely available within SEPA; check with Swedbank AB whether it applies to your account. Charges on SEPA transfers are generally low as long as everything stays in euros.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes on this page are taken from publicly available data which we refresh regularly. Even so, banks merge or retire codes. Figures such as the number of codes are from our own dataset and may differ from what Swedbank AB publishes.

Before any payment that matters, confirm the code with Swedbank AB or the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and not part of Swedbank AB. Found an error? Let us know through the contact page so we can correct it.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Swedbank AB

Having 2 codes in 1 locations, Swedbank AB is one of the banks that use separate codes for branches. The main code remains FORGGB21XXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, use FORGGB21XXX or its short form FORGGB21. When you receive a specific code, stick to it rather than swapping it for the head office code.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient which code their bank gave them. Codes for branches are more likely to change than the head office code.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Stay alert when someone suddenly asks you to send money to a different account abroad. That FORGGB21 is a real code is no guarantee that the account is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Verify changed bank details through a different channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, not by replying to the message. Be suspicious of time pressure, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. When a payment has already gone to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Fraud also work the other way. Someone claims to have sent more than agreed and asks you to refund the extra to a new account. Wait until the money is actually in your account – ask Swedbank AB if something looks wrong.

Why Swedbank AB has an 8- and an 11-character code

Each SWIFT/BIC code has the same eight core characters: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. Together, those parts form FORGGB21.

XXX at the end of FORGGB21XXX is not a placeholder or a mistake: it indicates the head office of Swedbank AB. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, and then you simply enter XXX after FORGGB21.

Leave out spaces when you enter FORGGB21. Watch for O versus 0 or the letter I and the digit 1; they are easy to mix up.