Europebanks.Info

Europebanks.info is an exclusive collection almost all main banks in european countries along with their contact information. This bank collection is one of the biggest collections and aimed at free source of information for users worldwide.

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IBAN and Payments in Europe

In europe among the european countries, ever since they acceded to euro currency, the interbank payment transactions had become very easier, cheaper and under single currency euro. It became mandatory for Banks in the EU to issue IBANs, on request, on all accounts from 2001. By introduction of IBAN (International Bank Account Number) one single account number is enough to receive payments from europe or worldwide. see: Guide on IBAN account numbers and payments in europe This IBAN account number contains information about

* Beneficiary Account number
* Bank Clearing Code (BLZ in germany, Code guichet in france)
* Destination Country

Besides this each bank, worldwide allotted and identified by a unique code known as SWIFT code or BIC (Bank Identification Code). The SWIFT organisation is responsible for allotting SWIFT or BIC codes to banks worldwide. Their website is swift.com. They also publish very latest updated SWIFT codes for banks or institutions in their website.

Example of IBAN used in UK.

Receiving Payments

If you are receiving any incoming payments from within europe or from a foreign country, you have to send the following bank coordinates to the sender in the format below.

Make sure that you give correct SWIFT/BIC codes and double check IBAN no before you send them to the payer. IBAN and BIC must be quoted when in receipt of international payments.

Sending a bank transfer to European bank

There are two main ways of transferring money to banks in europe by means of bank wire transfer.

• SWIFT Transfer (Foreign Payment). See codes for major banks below
• IBAN Payment Transaction

It all depends whether you live in europe or outside of europe. First you need to collect the bank coordinates from a the person who you want to pay for. Let say that you want to transfer EUR 1000.- to the persons bank account given below..

• If you live in US, Asia or Outside of Europe:

  You have to use SWIFT transfer. All that you need is unique SWIFT or BIC code of the institution name and account number of your customer. The outgoing bank transfer cost will be charged to you by your bank in foreign transfer category.

Note: If you are given IBAN no (usually about 15-30 long. see below ) instead of account number, then you must enter that in payee/beneficiary account number field of the payment order form.

• If you live or have bank account in Europe.

  Ever since july 2003, most of cross border european union payment transactions between european banks are processed and validated by means of IBAN account numbers. The significant advantage of sending payments using IBAN, the payment transaction between these countries are considered domestic and it would cost you less. But under the following conditions...

  1. The Payment is made in EUR currency.
  2. The total amount is less than EUR 12'500.
  3. IBAN account number is specified along with BIC/SWIFT code of institution.

  All you need is IBAN, SWIFT or BIC code and Account number of the beneficiary you pay for. If you dont quote your IBAN number and you submit only SWIFT code in the payment form, then the transaction will be considered foreign wire transfer and your bank will charge you the foreign transfer rate, eventhough it involves the banks in two neighbouring european countries. Some banks will charge USD 45.- or EUR 20.- for initiating a foreign transfer.

  Note: If the sender hadn't yet given you IBAN then ASK for it, to save your costs. If you are given IBAN (usually about 15-30 long), then you must enter that in payee account number field of the payment order form.

Correspondent Banks

Some people who have bank account in in europe will ask you to send bank transfer using correspondent banks. The main reason could be either their bank has no SWIFT code assigned to them or to facilitate the fast movement of payment transactions. Almost all major banks in europe have their own SWIFT code of their institution. But few small banks dont have their own SWIFT code, so instead they will ask you to send bank transfer to an instition (major bank) where in turn they will act as correspondent bank to receive money. You must quote the final beneficiary name, account no and address to be credited to in the payment order. For example let us say that Bank X located in London, has account with Bank of America, NY to receive quick and fast US dollar payments on behalf of bank clients without any conversion.

Correspondent bank means the bank itself will have an account with another big bank in USA or Europe or Worldwide who will act correspondent to them. The reason of using correspondent bank is fast faciliation of movement of transactions or the institiution does not have their own SWIFT/BIC code.

For example, if you were given the bank coordinates to transfer money...

SWIFT/BIC codes of Major Banks in Europe

Here are some of the unofficial list of SWIFT or BIC codes of very important banks in europe: