Virgin Money PLC SWIFT/BIC code

NRNBGB22 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Virgin Money PLC

NRNBGB22 and NRNBGB22XXX are two ways of writing the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Virgin Money PLC in Newcastle Upon Tyne. A BIC has a single purpose: it ensures that an international payment ends up at the right bank. It comes up mainly when dealing with payments that cross a border or a currency.

On this page you can read what the code means, when it matters and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Virgin Money PLC. The BIC names a bank or branch, never a specific account; the IBAN or account number does that.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

United Kingdom uses the British Pound. Money sent in a different currency will be exchanged into GBP before it reaches the account, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. Every conversion eats into something.

Which bank converts the payment matters: every bank has its own margin. Compare how much GBP arrives via different providers.

Exchange rates change all the time. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate make a real difference over time.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Criminals often send payment requests with new bank details. The fact that NRNBGB22 exists is no guarantee that the account is legitimate; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Always confirm a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Be suspicious of urgent requests, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. Acted too fast? Contact your bank without delay and ask them to start a recall and report the fraud.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to refund the difference abroad. A payment confirmation from the sender proves nothing.

8 or 11 characters: NRNBGB22 versus NRNBGB22XXX

Every SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. Together, those parts form NRNBGB22.

XXX at the end of NRNBGB22XXX does not stand for a missing value or an error: it stands for the main office of Virgin Money PLC. Certain payment forms ask for 11 characters, in which case you simply add XXX behind NRNBGB22.

In practice the code is written in capitals and without spaces. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 or I versus 1, a common source of typos.

What to give a sender who pays you at Virgin Money PLC

For a transfer from abroad into your account at Virgin Money PLC, the person paying you needs more than the BIC. What they need is: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, NRNBGB22XXX or NRNBGB22 and often your home address.

The sender’s bank may also ask for the address of your bank, in which case the Newcastle Upon Tyne head office is the usual answer. Double-check every detail before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Expect that the incoming amount is below what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, Virgin Money PLC may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate applies. For business payments, it is common to state how the fees are split, so that nobody is left short.

Before you send: check the Virgin Money PLC code

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details. Compare that code against NRNBGB22 on this page.

With a wrong code, the transfer may get stuck, bounce back or cost extra – sometimes after weeks of searching. A mistake in the account number can be more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else.

An automatic check in your banking app only tells you that the code exists. Some banks now compare the name against the account. A small test payment is a sensible step for large sums.

Head office or branch code at Virgin Money PLC?

Our directory lists 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Virgin Money PLC. Besides the head office code NRNBGB22XXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

Usually there is no need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to NRNBGB22XXX are routed within Virgin Money PLC correctly. If you have been given a specific code, stick to it rather than swapping it with the head office code.

Unsure which code applies? Check with the recipient. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Virgin Money PLC

How quickly a transfer reaches Virgin Money PLC depends on a few things: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Payments made late in the day or on weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later. Sometimes a bank wants to know what the payment is for.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank for the tracking status; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid needs to contact the bank that sent it, not the receiving bank. As a recipient, you can check your statements for a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.

Do you need NRNBGB22 for a SEPA transfer?

Inside SEPA, euro transfers to an account in United Kingdom use the same rules, so the IBAN does the job in most cases. A field for the BIC is often optional in that case.

The BIC does matter when the currency is not euros, and for transfers from outside SEPA. If your banking app has a field for the BIC regardless, entering NRNBGB22 is fine.

Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive by the next business day; instant payments are faster if both banks offer them. Charges on SEPA payments tend to be low.

International transfers from Virgin Money PLC: the real cost

The price of a payment abroad is made up of more than one component. Besides the transfer fee, banks in between may deduct a fee, and when the money changes currency the bank usually uses a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

Many banks rarely list the margin on the rate as a cost – you only notice it if you compare. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Money transfer services often use a rate near the mid-market rate. GoldexPay compares what recipients receive with different services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot. You can always keep your account at Virgin Money PLC to fund the transfer; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

How up to date is this code?

We collect bank codes from public sources and check them from time to time. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Counts and locations come from our own dataset and may differ from what Virgin Money PLC publishes.

For any payment that matters, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Virgin Money PLC; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Spotted outdated information? Let us know through the contact page and we will look into it.