Bank of China SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Bank of China

The 8-character code BKCHUS33 and the full code BKCHUS33XXX refer to the same bank: Bank of China, with its head office in New York,ny. The code has a single purpose: it makes sure that a cross-border transfer reaches the right bank. It comes up mostly for transfers between countries and payments in foreign currencies.

This page is meant to help people who sends money to an account at Bank of China and wants to get the details right. The BIC identifies a bank or branch, never a specific account; the IBAN or account number does that.

Getting paid from abroad into a Bank of China account

A sender in another country will ask for several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. The basics are: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, BKCHUS33XXX and often your postal address.

The sender’s bank might also ask for the bank address of Bank of China, in which case the New York,ny head office is the usual answer. A typo in the IBAN is more trouble than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Money from abroad will not always land in full. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. For business payments, you can agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We collect bank codes from publicly available data and check them regularly. It is possible that information here is no longer current, for example after a merger. The figures on this page reflect our own data.

Use our data as a starting point, rather than as the final word. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers and not affiliated with Bank of China. If you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a message.

8 or 11 characters: BKCHUS33 versus BKCHUS33XXX

A BIC is made up of a few fixed parts: the first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six show the country and the two after that mark the location. For Bank of China, the 8-character core is BKCHUS33.

The long version has a three-character extension that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office, so BKCHUS33XXX and BKCHUS33 are interchangeable.

Enter the code as one block, in capitals and without separators. Pasting the code beats typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.

When will the money arrive at Bank of China?

An international transfer usually takes anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often start the next business day. Extra checks by one of the banks can also cause some delay.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank about the tracking status or the UETR. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status in their app so you can see how far the payment has got.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the person who paid should start with the bank that sent it, not the receiving bank. Request from the sender the payment receipt; that often settles the question quickly.

Watch out for payment fraud

Be alert if someone suddenly asks you to pay into a different account or a bank in another country. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine – scammers simply use real codes.

Never trust a phone number in the same message that announces the new account. Pressure and secrecy are warning signs. If money has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away.

Scams can also work the other way. Someone sends too much and asks you to refund the extra to a new account. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof.

The US Dollar and what conversion costs you

United States uses the US Dollar, with the currency code USD. A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into USD on its way to Bank of China – and the bank that does it picks the rate. Each conversion eats into the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives. Sending the amount directly in USD often avoids a second conversion at the receiving end – as long as your own rate is good.

The rate for USD fluctuates constantly. For recurring payments, a slightly better rate make a real difference over a year.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Bank of China

The best place to find the right code is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. Compare that code with BKCHUS33 here and ask if anything does not match.

A wrong SWIFT code can cause delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges for investigation. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person, so check that just as carefully.

Many banking apps check the format of an IBAN. More and more banks check the name with the account. Sending a small amount first can be worth it for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

What a transfer from Bank of China abroad really costs

The price of an international transfer is made up of more than one component, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. There is the transfer fee, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the exchange rate markup.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest cost, and it is easy to miss. A simple test: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. Next time you send money, it is worth to compare the total cost via GoldexPay. Using a transfer service does not require leaving Bank of China: you simply pay the service from your account.

Choosing between the 5 SWIFT codes of Bank of China

Having 5 codes in 4 cities, Bank of China is one of the banks that register separate codes for branches and departments. The main code remains BKCHUS33XXX.

Usually there is no need to look up a branch: payments sent to BKCHUS33XXX are routed within Bank of China without problems. Just use a branch code when the recipient gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Branch codes can change over time, so do not rely on old paperwork.