SWIFT/BIC codes in United States: banks starting with Q

SWIFT/BIC codes in United States

This directory covers 3498 banks and other institutions in United States. Each code identifies an institution or one of its branches, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Look for the recipient’s bank in the list and click through to see the full list of codes. The rest of this page explain how the codes work, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing.

Tracking a payment to United States

How quickly a payment reaches United States is determined by several factors: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Payments made late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day.

If the money is delayed, ask the sender to contact their own bank and ask for the status or the UETR – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Money transfer services usually provide a status in their app so you can follow the payment.

What the letters in a United States BIC mean

SWIFT/BIC codes follow one international format: eight characters plus an optional three-character extension. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

You can recognise a code from United States from letters five and six: they always show the ISO country code of United States. A code with a different country code belong to another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The long version adds three characters for a branch. In most cases the head office code is fine.

Sending money to United States for less

The price of a transfer to United States is made up of several parts, and the fee on your screen is only one of them. There is the transfer fee, possibly fees from correspondent banks and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. A simple test: set the offered rate against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.

Verifying a SWIFT code from United States

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient. If the code you have differs from our list, stop and ask.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Even so, banks merge or change codes, so information can be out of date. For a payment of any size, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Fraudsters often use payment requests with changed bank details that look completely genuine. Before paying, verify changed details through a separate channel.

SWIFT codes in United States: banks under :letter

This page only shows the banks in United States beginning with :letter in alphabetical order. The totals on this page apply to every bank we list.

Some banks appear under their official name rather than the name on their app or website. The complete list is one click away if you cannot find the bank here.

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

Of all banks we list for United States, Citadel Investment Group, L.l.c. has the most codes. Its main office uses CITGUS44XXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

The number of codes tells you more about how it registers branches and services than about its size. Paying someone at Citadel Investment Group, L.l.c.? Go with CITGUS44XXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

Paying in USD: what conversion costs you

Most accounts in United States are typically held in USD – the US Dollar. When you pay money in a different currency, it has to be converted somewhere along the way – by your bank, a bank in between or the recipient’s bank.

Who converts the money makes a difference. Compare how much USD the recipient gets with several providers. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

International payments to United States and the BIC

United States is outside the SEPA area, the European zone for uniform euro payments. Payments from abroad usually go through the SWIFT network – which is why you need the BIC of the recipient’s bank.

Not all countries use the IBAN; in that case the local account number is used instead. Check with the recipient exactly which details their bank needs for incoming international payments; banks often publish instructions for this. Before it arrives, a payment can pass through correspondent banks that charge for their part.

Incoming international payments in United States

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs several details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. That means: your full name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your postal address.

Find the bank in the list on this page – your bank statement is the final word. Some sending banks may also want your bank’s address.

The amount you receive is often lower than the amount sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.