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

Bank SWIFT codes for United Kingdom

In United Kingdom our database holds 20757 SWIFT/BIC codes. You need a SWIFT/BIC code mainly when making international transfers.

Choose the bank below to see the head office code and any branch codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. The rest of this page covers the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes before you send money.

The cheapest way to send money to United Kingdom

When you send money to United Kingdom via a regular bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. There is a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest cost item. An easy check: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in United Kingdom with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route.

Tracking a payment to United Kingdom

An international transfer to United Kingdom typically takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Payments made after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later.

If a transfer is late, ask the sender to contact their own bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking online, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

The largest SWIFT network in United Kingdom: HSBC Bank PLC

HSBC Bank PLC tops the list of United Kingdom banks when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is HBUKGB41XXX – the code most transfers need.

Practice differs in how many codes they register. Making a payment to HSBC Bank PLC? Go with HBUKGB41XXX unless a specific branch code is requested.

United Kingdom and the SEPA area

United Kingdom belongs to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), where euro transfers follow common rules. When you send euros within SEPA, the IBAN is usually enough and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

A SWIFT code still matter when the currency is not euros and for transfers from outside SEPA. Instant payments in euros are widely supported within SEPA. Provided the payment stays in euros, the transfer tends to be inexpensive.

Incoming international payments in United Kingdom

If you are waiting for a payment from another country on an account in United Kingdom, send the payer everything they need in one go. That means: your full name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and, often, your postal address.

The code of your bank is in the list on this page. Some banks also ask for the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

About our data and how to check a code

Have the recipient send you their bank details directly from a recent statement. An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or additional charges, so compare it with the list on this page.

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and check them from time to time. Even so, banks merge or retire codes. Treat our data as a starting point rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is not a bank and has no link to the banks in this list.

Be wary of payment requests with changed bank details – a common fraud method. A real SWIFT code says nothing about whether a request is genuine: criminals use real codes too.

Filter: banks in United Kingdom with :letter

This page shows only the banks in United Kingdom whose name starts with :letter. The counts in the introduction always cover the whole country.

Cannot find the bank? Its official name may start with a different letter. Try the full list for United Kingdom when you are not sure how the name is spelled.

Sending GBP to United Kingdom

United Kingdom uses the British Pound, with the currency code GBP. Money sent in a different currency will be converted into GBP on its way to the recipient.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on the final amount. Often it is cheaper if you send GBP straight away through a transfer service with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Rates for GBP change during the day.

What the letters in a United Kingdom BIC mean

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. 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. When the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank somewhere else, so check again.

An 11-character code ends in three characters for a branch, where XXX means the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.