Paribas SWIFT/BIC code

PARBUS41 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Paribas

The 8-character code PARBUS41 and the full code PARBUS41XXX identify the same bank: Paribas in Chicago,il, United States. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment which institution is meant to get the money, much like a postcode for banks. In daily life you usually come across it on invoices from abroad, in your banking app and in the bank details of Paribas customers.

This page is meant to help people who sends money to an account at Paribas and wants to get the details right. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify an individual account holder; for that you need the IBAN or account number is for.

Why Paribas has an 8- and an 11-character code

The layout of a BIC never changes: a bank code of four letters, two for the country and two for the location, plus an optional branch code. Combined, these eight characters form PARBUS41, the code most people search for.

Many payment forms accept either length. If a form requires eleven characters, enter PARBUS41XXX; if it wants eight, use PARBUS41.

As a rule the code is written in capitals. Look out for O versus 0 or I versus 1, a common source of typos.

US Dollar (USD) and conversion costs

Accounts at Paribas are usually held in USD, the local currency of United States. If you send another currency it has to be converted somewhere along the way – by your bank, by Paribas or by a bank in between. Every conversion eats into the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives, as rates and margins differ per bank. Sending the money directly in USD often avoids a second conversion.

Rates for USD change all the time. With bigger transfers, a small difference in the rate adds up quickly.

Is PARBUS41 still correct? How to check

The most reliable source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details. Compare it with PARBUS41 here and ask if anything does not match.

With a wrong code, the payment might get stuck, be returned or end up costing more, and tracing it can take weeks. An error in the IBAN or account number is more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else.

Many banking apps check the structure of IBANs, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. If your bank offers it, a name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first can be a sensible step for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

Watch out for payment fraud

Scammers regularly use fake invoices with new bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers simply use real codes.

Before paying, verify changed bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Urgency or secrecy tend to be warning signs. Acted too fast? Call the bank you paid from without delay and have them try to recall the payment and report the fraud.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much followed by a request to refund the difference. A payment confirmation from the sender proves nothing – check your own account.

Which of the 3 codes of Paribas do you need?

Paribas has 3 separate SWIFT/BIC codes. Only one is the head office code; the rest belong to branches, and sometimes internal departments.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code PARBUS41XXX works fine. When you receive a branch code, use it as it is instead of swapping it for the head office code.

The best way is to copy the code straight from the account holder’s statement. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Receiving money from abroad at Paribas

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details from you. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC PARBUS41XXX and sometimes your postal address.

Certain sending banks want the bank’s address in Chicago,il; it does no harm to include it. A typo in the IBAN can be more trouble than you might think, so copy the details from your online banking.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes here come from public sources. Institutions merge, change names and change codes – a directory can be a step behind. Counts and locations are from our own dataset and may differ from what Paribas publishes.

Treat this page as a reference, not as the last word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. GoldexPay has no connection to Paribas. Found outdated information? Tell us via our contact form and we will look into it.

What a transfer from Paribas abroad really costs

When you send money abroad from Paribas, the fee you see is rarely all of the cost. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can deduct a fee, and when currencies are converted, the bank often applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest item because it is hidden in the rate. A simple test: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares these services next to each other so you can see what actually arrives for the same amount sent. Using a transfer service does not require leaving Paribas.

When will the money arrive at Paribas?

There is no single answer: many land the same day or the next while others need several business days. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Extra checks by one of the banks may also add some delay, regardless of the details.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask your bank about the status; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Specialist transfer services usually show tracking online showing how far the payment is.

Only the sending bank can start an official trace or a recall. As a recipient, it helps to check your account for a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.