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

SWIFT/BIC codes in United Kingdom

Here you will find codes for 4648 institutions in United Kingdom. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain exactly which bank should receive an international payment.

Look for the bank you need in the list and open its page for the full list of codes and the details a transfer needs. Below the list you can read how codes from United Kingdom are built, how to send money there at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

The structure of a United Kingdom SWIFT/BIC code

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. It starts with a four-letter bank code, then two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

You can recognise a code from United Kingdom by letters five and six – those always form the country code of United Kingdom. When the country letters do not match United Kingdom, you are looking at a bank somewhere else, so check again.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the head office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. Choose a branch code just if the recipient explicitly gives you one – otherwise stick with the head office.

Check the code before you pay

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. If the code you have does not match our list, stop and ask – contact the recipient or their bank.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and check our list from time to time. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes, so information can be out of date. Use our data as a starting point rather than the last word. GoldexPay is a comparison service and not part of any bank listed here.

Fraudsters often use fake invoices carrying changed bank details that look completely genuine. Before paying, confirm a change of bank details through a separate channel, using a number you already had.

Filter: banks in United Kingdom with :letter

The letter filter limits the list down to banks from United Kingdom that begin with :letter to make searching quicker. The figures for United Kingdom mentioned here apply to every bank we list and not only this letter.

Bank not listed? The registered name may start with a different letter. The complete list remains available if you cannot find the bank here.

Receiving money in United Kingdom from abroad

To receive a transfer from abroad in United Kingdom, the person paying you needs not just the BIC. Share your name as registered with the bank, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

Find the bank in the list on this page. It helps to include your bank’s name and city because some forms have separate fields for it.

Expect that the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank; check the price list of your bank. Agree with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

What a transfer to United Kingdom really costs

The price of a payment to United Kingdom is made up of several parts – not only the fee you see. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent banks may deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank often uses a rate below the real market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. An easy check: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. On GoldexPay we compare the amount that arrives in United Kingdom with different services.

When does money sent to United Kingdom arrive?

An international transfer to United Kingdom usually takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Bank holidays in either country can add extra days to the journey.

If the money seems delayed, ask the sender to contact their own bank for a trace; only the sending side can start an official trace. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms; a bank needs it to start a trace.

Paying in euros to United Kingdom

Because United Kingdom is in SEPA, a euro payment to an account in United Kingdom usually requires just the IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC for these payments.

You will still need a SWIFT code when sending non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. SEPA transfers normally land within one business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Costs stay low as long as everything stays in euros.

Which bank in United Kingdom has the most codes?

HSBC Bank PLC leads our list for United Kingdom in the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is HBUKGB41XXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

Banks differ in how many codes they register. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code HBUKGB41XXX works for transfers to this bank.

Paying in GBP: what conversion costs you

Most accounts in United Kingdom are typically held in GBP. Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into GBP on its way to the recipient.

Who converts the money makes a difference, because each party uses its own rate. Check how much GBP arrives with several providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. On larger amounts, a seemingly small difference in the rate adds up quickly.