SWIFT codes in France
FR · EUR
2223 banks in France, from BNP PARIBAS (BNPAFRPH) onward; every code carries FR as its country part.
Banks
2223
SWIFT codes
3
Branches
8
Currency
EUR
Banks and SWIFT codes in France
BBNP PARIBAS
| SWIFT/BIC | City |
|---|---|
BNPAFRPHXXX | PARIS |
BNPAFRPPIPI | PARIS |
BNPAFRPPINT | PARIS |
BNPAFRPPIVR | IVRY-SUR-SEINE |
BNPAFRPPICE | PARIS |
BBOURSORAMA
| SWIFT/BIC | City |
|---|---|
BOUSFRPPBDF | BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT |
BOUSFRPPTPS | BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT |
BOUSFRPPXXX | BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT |
France SWIFT code questions
What does a France SWIFT code look like?
BNPAFRPHXXX (BNP PARIBAS): bank BNPA, country FR, location PH, branch XXX.
What are the SWIFT codes for major French banks?
Key French bank SWIFT codes include: BNP Paribas — BNPAFRPP, Credit Agricole — AGRIFRPP, Societe Generale — SOGEFRPP, La Banque Postale — PSSTFRPP, Caisse d'Epargne — CEPAFRPP, Credit Mutuel — CMCIFRPP, and LCL — CRLYFRPP. French banks typically use BIC8 codes; the BIC11 variant identifies a specific branch.
Do I need a SWIFT code or just an IBAN for transfers to France?
For EUR transfers from within the SEPA zone, the French IBAN (starting with FR, 27 characters) is sufficient — no SWIFT/BIC code is needed. For transfers from outside SEPA or in a non-EUR currency, you will need the bank's BIC/SWIFT code alongside the IBAN. SEPA transfers are faster, cheaper, and do not incur inbound wire fees.
How long does a SWIFT transfer to France take?
SEPA EUR transfers from within Europe typically arrive within one business day (often same-day with SEPA Instant). SWIFT transfers from outside SEPA usually take one to three business days. Transfers in non-EUR currencies may take slightly longer. French banks process inbound SWIFT transfers during standard banking hours (Paris time).
Are there fees for receiving a SWIFT transfer in France?
SEPA transfers in EUR are typically free or very low cost. Non-SEPA SWIFT transfers may incur an inbound commission (frais de reception de virement international), typically EUR 10–30 depending on the bank. If the transfer arrives in a non-EUR currency, the bank will convert at their own rate. Check your bank's tarif bancaire (fee schedule) for details.
What is a RIB and how does it relate to SWIFT transfers?
A RIB (Relevé d'Identité Bancaire) is a standard French banking document that contains your IBAN, BIC (SWIFT code), bank name, and account holder details. It is the primary way French bank customers share their account information for transfers. For international SWIFT transfers, provide the sender with the BIC and IBAN from your RIB.
Can I check a French bank's BIC in the Banque de France or ACPR registers?
Not the BIC itself. <a href="https://www.regafi.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">REGAFI</a>, the register of authorised firms published by the ACPR, which supervises French banks, records each credit institution's legal name, trade names, address, interbank code (CIB), SIREN number and Legal Entity Identifier, but carries no BIC field. What it can confirm is that the bank named beside a BIC exists and holds a French authorisation: the ACPR asks users to make sure the legal name, trade name and address match the institution they mean exactly. For a bank from another EU country working in France through a branch, it points to the home supervisor's register and to the European Banking Authority's <a href="https://www.eba.europa.eu/risk-and-data-analysis/data/registers-and-other-list-institutions/credit-institutions-register" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">credit institutions register</a>.
Does the French payee name check cover a SWIFT transfer?
No. The vérification du bénéficiaire French banks started on 9 October 2025 applies to SEPA credit transfers, standard and instant. A <a href="https://www.banque-france.fr/system/files/2025-09/CNMP_Guide-d-utilisation-Verification-du-beneficiaire.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">user guide from the national payments committee</a>, published by the Banque de France, says no check is planned for an international transfer outside SEPA, and that SEPA countries outside the European Economic Area, such as the United Kingdom and Switzerland, are not yet bound by it. The name is not checked either when you send a payment order to your bank by post and are not there while staff enter it. With no check, the guide asks payers to verify the bank details carefully, and warns that a RIB may leave out or shorten the first name, often on joint accounts.
Do banks in Réunion, Guadeloupe and the other overseas departments use French BICs and IBANs?
Their IBANs begin with FR, but their BICs carry the territory's own country letters. The European Payments Council's <a href="https://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/sites/default/files/kb/file/2025-12/EPC409-09%20EPC%20List%20of%20SEPA%20Scheme%20Countries%20v8.0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">list of SEPA scheme countries</a> gives GP for Guadeloupe, MQ for Martinique, GF for French Guiana, RE for Réunion and YT for Mayotte as the code used in BICs, with FR in the IBAN; the same split applies in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy. New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna, in the CFP franc zone, are not on the list. The <a href="https://www.banque-france.fr/system/files/2025-09/CNMP_Guide-d-utilisation-Verification-du-beneficiaire.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNMP guide</a> adds that instant transfers have not been rolled out between France's euro territories and those Pacific collectivities, and that the payee name check does not apply to transfers between them.
How SWIFT works in France
France is a core SEPA member, so most EUR transfers from other European countries do not require a SWIFT code at all — the French IBAN is sufficient. SWIFT codes (also called BIC in France) become necessary when the sender is outside the SEPA zone or when the transfer is in a non-EUR currency. French banks commonly use BIC8 codes, with the full BIC11 only needed to identify a specific branch.
- For inbound EUR payments from SEPA countries, providing the French IBAN is enough. French banks including BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, and Societe Generale will process these without a BIC. For non-SEPA senders, the BIC8 code (eight characters) is usually sufficient as French banks route internally.
- If you are sending a non-EUR currency (such as USD or GBP) to a French bank account, the payment will go via SWIFT and the receiving bank will convert to EUR at their own rate. This conversion is often expensive — consider converting to EUR on the sending side if your provider offers a better exchange rate.
- Some French banks charge an inbound commission for SWIFT transfers that do not arrive via SEPA. This fee (often called frais de reception de virement international) can range from 10 to 30 EUR. The recipient should check their bank's tariff schedule to avoid surprises.
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MalaysiaNeed an IBAN?
France IBANs run 27 characters, e.g. FR14 2004 1010 0505 0001 3M02 606.
France IBAN format→