Cathay Bank SWIFT/BIC code

CATHUS6L – the SWIFT/BIC code of Cathay Bank

The short code CATHUS6L and the full code CATHUS6LXXX refer to one and the same institution: Cathay Bank. Banks worldwide use BIC codes to route payments between countries to the correct institution. In practice you mostly see the code on invoices from abroad, in your banking app and in the bank details of Cathay Bank customers.

On this page you can read how the code is put together, when you need it and what else a transfer to or from Cathay Bank requires. The BIC names an institution, not a single account; the IBAN or account number does that.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

A common scam goes like this: an email arrives with a message claiming that a supplier now has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about whether the request is genuine – scammers simply use real codes.

Check changed payment details via a separate channel, not by replying to the message. Pressure or requests to keep it quiet tend to be warning signs – a real supplier can wait a day. When money has already gone to the wrong account, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams also work the other way: someone sends too much and asks you to return the extra to a new account. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.

How up to date is this code?

We gather bank codes from public sources and update them from time to time. Banks merge, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Figures such as the number of codes are from our own dataset and may differ from what Cathay Bank publishes.

For a payment of any size, check the code with Cathay Bank or the recipient. We are a comparison service and not affiliated with Cathay Bank. Should you notice a mistake, we welcome a message via the contact page.

Sending money abroad from Cathay Bank

A bank transfer abroad can cost more than the listed fee. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the currency changes.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: many banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay compares transfer providers side by side so you can see the amount the recipient gets. You can still keep your account at Cathay Bank to fund the transfer.

Tracking a transfer to or from Cathay Bank

There is no single answer for every transfer: some land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or just before weekends and holidays often go out a business day later. Sometimes a bank asks what the payment is for before releasing it.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact your bank about the tracking status so they can trace it along the chain. Keep the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms – you will need it for any trace request.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid should contact the bank that sent it rather than Cathay Bank. On the receiving end, you can look at your account for a slightly lower amount, since fees may have been deducted.

Which of the 2 codes of Cathay Bank do you need?

Having 2 codes, Cathay Bank belongs to the banks that register individual codes for parts of the organisation. The head office code remains CATHUS6LXXX.

Usually there is no need to pick a branch: transfers sent to CATHUS6LXXX are routed within Cathay Bank correctly. If you have been given a branch code, stick to it rather than replacing it with the head office code.

Not sure which code to use? Check with the recipient. Codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so do not rely on old paperwork.

What the XXX in CATHUS6LXXX means

Every SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and two characters for the location. Combined, these eight characters form CATHUS6L, the code most people search for.

Many banks and apps work with both lengths. If a form asks for eleven characters, enter CATHUS6LXXX, otherwise CATHUS6L is fine.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without spaces. Watch for O versus 0 and I versus 1; they are easy to mix up.

Before you send: check the Cathay Bank code

Ask the recipient to copy their bank details straight from their banking app. When the code you were given does not match CATHUS6L or CATHUS6LXXX, stop and ask.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges along the way. Remember the account number: an error there can be harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

A format check by your bank only tells you that the IBAN is valid, not that it is the right account. If your bank offers it, a name check on the recipient gives an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first is a sensible step for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

Incoming international payments to Cathay Bank

If you expect a payment from another country, give the sender a complete set of details. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC CATHUS6LXXX and your address.

Some sending banks want the name and address of Cathay Bank in Rosemead,ca; it does no harm to include it. A typo in the IBAN is more trouble than it looks.

An incoming payment does not always arrive in full. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank – the price list of Cathay Bank tells you what applies. On invoices, you can state how the fees are split.

Sending USD to Cathay Bank

United States pays in the US Dollar. If you send another currency, the amount has to be converted at some point. Every conversion costs something, even when no fee is shown.

Who does the conversion has an effect on how much arrives, as rates and margins differ per bank. Check how much USD arrives via different services.

The rate for USD fluctuates throughout the day. For recurring payments, a slightly better rate add up over a year.