Wells Fargo Bank NA SWIFT/BIC code

Wells Fargo Bank NA SWIFT code: WFBIUS6W

WFBIUS6W and WFBIUS6WCLS are two spellings of the same bank identifier, and both lead to Wells Fargo Bank NA in San Francisco,ca. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to route payments between countries to the right bank. In practice you usually come across the code on invoices from abroad, in your banking app and in the bank details that Wells Fargo Bank NA provides.

On this page you can read how the code is put together, when it matters and which other details a transfer to or from Wells Fargo Bank NA requires. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify a personal account; for that you need the IBAN or account number .

How up to date is this code?

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from public sources. Even so, banks merge or change codes. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset and may differ from what Wells Fargo Bank NA publishes.

See the information here as a handy check and rely on the recipient or Wells Fargo Bank NA for the final confirmation. GoldexPay has no connection to Wells Fargo Bank NA. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message.

8 or 11 characters: WFBIUS6W versus WFBIUS6WCLS

A BIC is made up of a few fixed parts: the first four letters stand for the bank, characters five and six give the country and the two after that mark the location. The result is WFBIUS6W.

XXX at the end of WFBIUS6WCLS does not stand for a placeholder or an error: it stands for the main office of Wells Fargo Bank NA. Some forms insist on 11 characters, in which case you can enter XXX after WFBIUS6W.

As a rule the code is typed in capitals. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 and I versus 1, a common source of typos.

Paying into Wells Fargo Bank NA in USD

United States uses the US Dollar (USD). When you pay another currency, the amount has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or Wells Fargo Bank NA itself. Every conversion costs the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Who converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Transferring the money directly in USD usually prevents a second conversion at the receiving end.

Rates for USD change during the day – some services let you fix a rate in advance. With bigger transfers, a small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

What to give a sender who pays you at Wells Fargo Bank NA

When you expect money from abroad, give the sender everything they need in one go. In practice that means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC WFBIUS6WCLS and sometimes your postal address.

You can include Wells Fargo Bank NA and San Francisco,ca too, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A mistake in the IBAN can be more trouble than it looks; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank – the price list of Wells Fargo Bank NA tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

When will the money arrive at Wells Fargo Bank NA?

There is no fixed delivery time for international payments: some arrive within a day, others take several business days. Bank holidays in either country can add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments can also add a delay.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Money transfer services often show tracking online so you can see how far the payment is.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace or a recall. As a recipient, you can look at your account for a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

Head office or branch code at Wells Fargo Bank NA?

Our database contains 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for Wells Fargo Bank NA. Next to the head office code WFBIUS6WCLS, you will find codes for branches, departments or specific services.

Usually you do not need to look up a branch: payments addressed to WFBIUS6WCLS are routed within Wells Fargo Bank NA without problems. Just use a branch code when the recipient explicitly asks for it, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than the head office code.

Paying someone abroad from your Wells Fargo Bank NA account

If you send money abroad via Wells Fargo Bank NA, the fee you see is only part of the cost. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can deduct a fee, and if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

Many banks rarely list their exchange rate markup as a cost. A simple test: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares transfer providers next to each other so you can see what actually arrives. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Wells Fargo Bank NA.

How to check WFBIUS6W before you pay

Have the recipient copy their account details directly from a recent statement. Compare that code with WFBIUS6W here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

Mistakes in the BIC are annoying rather than fatal: often the payment comes back, minus fees. Do not forget the IBAN: an error there can be harder to correct than a wrong code.

A validity check in your banking app merely confirms that the code exists, not that it is the right account. If your bank offers it, a payee name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. A small test payment is a sensible step for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Stay alert if someone unexpectedly wants you to send money to another account abroad. The fact that WFBIUS6W exists is no guarantee that the account is genuine.

Do not rely on contact details from the same email that contains the change. Be suspicious of urgent requests, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Call the bank you paid from straight away and ask them to try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

Scams also work the other way: someone claims to have sent too much and wants you to refund the extra to a new account. A payment confirmation from the sender proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.