SWIFT/BIC codes in United States

Bank SWIFT codes for United States

Our directory contains 3498 banks and other institutions in United States. You will need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly when making international transfers, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Pick 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 explain how the codes work, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes before a payment.

Sending money to United States for less

When you transfer money to United States with a regular bank, the fee you see is only part of the cost. You pay the transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest cost item. Compare the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites. The difference is your real cost.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. GoldexPay compares transfer services side by side so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.

How long does a transfer to United States take?

There is no fixed answer for payments to United States: many arrive within a day while others need several business days. Public holidays in United States or in the sending country add a day or more to the journey.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact their own bank. Money transfer services usually provide tracking in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

The largest SWIFT network in United States: Citadel Investment Group, L.l.c.

Citadel Investment Group, L.l.c. tops the list for United States in SWIFT/BIC codes. Its main office uses CITGUS44XXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Banks differ in whether they register branch codes. Making a payment to Citadel Investment Group, L.l.c.? Use CITGUS44XXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

United States and the US Dollar

United States pays in the US Dollar, with the currency code USD. If you send money in a different currency, it has to be converted at some point – by your bank, a bank in between or the recipient’s bank.

Which bank converts the payment matters. Often you pay less if you send USD straight away via a provider with a good rate. Rates for USD change all the time, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

Incoming international payments in United States

If you expect a payment from another country on an account in United States, give the sender all details at once. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your address.

Your bank’s code is in our list but always compare it with your own bank details. Certain banks may also ask for your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.

The amount you receive is often less than what was sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. On invoices, state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

International payments to United States and the BIC

Because United States is outside SEPA, a transfer from abroad is usually sent through SWIFT. That means the payment always needs the BIC of the receiving bank.

In some countries, the account is identified by a local account number rather than an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. Check with the recipient which details their bank requires for incoming international payments; banks often publish instructions for this. On the way to United States, a transfer may pass through correspondent banks.

The structure of a United States SWIFT/BIC code

Each SWIFT/BIC code has 8 or 11 characters in a fixed order. First comes a four-letter bank code, then a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

No matter which bank, every code from United States have the same fifth and sixth letters, namely the ISO code of United States. Codes with a different country code belong to another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The last three characters, if present, identify a branch or department; XXX means the head office. In most cases the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

Verifying a SWIFT code from United States

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. A wrong code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges.

This list is based on publicly available sources that we update periodically. Institutions reorganise, change names and change codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Use our data as a reference, not as the final word. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Be wary of payment requests containing a new account – a common fraud method. Before paying, confirm changed details through a separate channel.