When making international money transfers, you’re usually required to enter the bank SWIFT code (or bank code for PayPal transactions). Just what are these codes and what are they used for? How can you find them?
Fortunately, these unfamiliar codes are actually simple to decode. This guide provides everything you need to know from SWIFT code meaning to the different SWIFT codes and bank codes in the Philippines.
Table of Contents
SWIFT Codes (BIC) in the Philippines
What is SWIFT Code?
The SWIFT code is an international code used for identifying business parties—usually banks—and routing financial transactions worldwide. This ensures that funds are transferred quickly and securely to the right bank.
This code is also known as BIC (Business Identifier Code), BIC code, SWIFT-BIC, or SWIFT ID. It consists of eight to 11 characters with the following format:
- Four-character bank code
- Two-character country code
- Two-character location code
- Optional three-character branch identifier
For example, BPI SWIFT code: BOPIPHMM
- BOPI = Bank of the Philippine Islands
- PH = Philippines country code
- MM = Metro Manila
SWIFT stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, a network based in La Hulpe, Belgium that manages SWIFT codes.
When Do You Use a SWIFT Code?
The BIC tells banks and remittance companies where to send the money. This is why you need this code each time you transfer funds internationally.
If you’re sending cash abroad, you need to get the recipient’s bank SWIFT code before you can make a money transfer.
On the other hand, if you’re receiving money from abroad, you need to provide your bank’s BIC code in the Philippines to the sender.
How to Find Your Bank’s SWIFT Code
It’s important to use the correct BIC because money transfers can’t be transmitted with the wrong code.
To make sure you’re getting the right SWIFT number or code, visit the SWIFT website[1] and search for your particular bank.
Online BIC Search Steps:
- Enter the bank name next to “Institution name.” If you need the UnionBank or the EastWest Bank swift code, key in the bank name in this field.
- Choose “Philippines” from the “Country” drop-down menu.
- Enter the code that appears next to “Challenge.”
- Click the Search button.
Alternatively, you may call your bank’s customer service hotline to ask for its SWIFT ID.
SWIFT Codes of Philippine Banks
To save you time and effort, here’s a full list of SWIFT codes of major banks in the Philippines:
| Bank | SWIFT Code |
|---|---|
| Asia United Bank Corporation (AUB) | AUBKPHMM |
| Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited | ANZBPHMX |
| Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, Manila Branch | BKKBPHMM |
| Bank of America, N.A. Manila | BOFAPH2X |
| Bank of China, Manila Branch | BKCHPHMM |
| Bank of Commerce | PABIPHMM |
| Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) | BOPIPHMM |
| BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) | BNORPHMM |
| BNP Paribas, Manila Offshore Branch | BNPAPHMM |
| BPI Direct | BPDIPHM1 |
| BPI Family Savings Bank | BPFSPHM1 |
| BPI Globe Banko Inc. | BPGOPHM1 |
| Cathay United Bank Co., LTD. Manila Branch | UWCBPHMM |
| China Banking Corporation (China Bank) | CHBKPHMM |
| China Bank Savings, Inc. | CHSVPHM1 |
| CIMB Bank Philippines, Inc. | CIPHPHMM |
| Citibank, N.A. - Makati Branch | CITIPHMX |
| Citibank, N.A. - Manila Branch | CITIPHMXTSU |
| Citibank, N.A. - Cebu Branch | CITIPHMXCBU |
| CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp. | CTCBPHMM |
| Deutsche Bank AG | DEUTPHMM |
| Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) | DBPHPHMM |
| East West Banking Corporation (EastWest Bank) | EWBCPHMM |
| Equicom Savings Bank, Inc. | EQSNPHM1 |
| First Commercial Bank, Ltd., Manila Branch | FCBKPHMM |
| Globe Telecom, Inc. (GCash) | GLTEPHMT |
| The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd - Philippine Branch (HSBC Philippines) | HSBCPHMM |
| HSBC Savings Bank (Philippines) Inc. | HBPHPHMM |
| Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Ltd., Manila Branch | HNBKPHMM |
| Industrial Bank of Korea, Manila Branch | IBKOPHMM |
| ING Bank N.V. | INGBPHMM |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Manila Branch | CHASPHMM |
| KEB Hana Bank | KOEXPHMM |
| Land Bank of the Philippines | TLBPPHMM |
| Maybank Philippines, Inc. | MBBEPHMM |
| Mega International Commercial Bank Co., Ltd., Manila Branch | ICBCPHMM |
| Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) | MBTCPHMM |
| Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Manila Branch | MHCBPHMM |
| MUFG Bank, Ltd., Manila Branch (formerly Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ) | BOTKPHMM |
| Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCOM) | CPHIPHMM |
| Philippine Business Bank | PPBUPHMM |
| Philippine National Bank (PNB) | PNBMPHMM |
| Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) | PHSBPHMM |
| Philippine Veterans Bank | PHVBPHMM |
| Philtrust Bank (Philippine Trust Company) | PHTBPHMM |
| Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) | RCBCPHMM |
| Robinsons Bank Corporation | ROBPPHMQ |
| Security Bank Corporation | SETCPHMM |
| Shinhan Bank Manila Branch | SHBKPHMM |
| Standard Chartered Bank – Makati Branch | SCBLPHMM |
| Standard Chartered Bank – Manila Branch | SCBLPHMMEQI |
| Sterling Bank of Asia Inc. | STLAPH22 |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Manila Branch | SMBCPHMM |
| Tonik Digital Bank, Inc. | TODGPHM2 |
| Taiwan Cooperative Bank Manila Offshore Banking Branch | TACBPHMM |
| Union Bank of the Philippines | UBPHPHMM |
| United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) | UCPBPHMM |
| United Overseas Bank Limited – Manila Branch | UOVBPHMM |
| Yuanta Savings Bank (formerly Tong Yang Savings Bank) | TYBKPHMM |
Bank Codes (BRSTN) in the Philippines
What is a Bank Code?
A bank code, also called the Bank Routing Symbol Transit Number (BRSTN), is a nine-digit code assigned to a bank used for identifying its name, city, and country in financial transactions. This code is the standard bank identifier for sending and receiving money in the Philippines.
To get your bank code or BRSTN code, you may contact your bank’s head office (or parent bank if it’s a subsidiary).
Read more: What Banks are Open on Weekends? Here’s a Guide for Your Weekend Banking Needs
When Do You Use a Bank Code?
The most familiar use of bank codes is withdrawing funds from users’ PayPal account to their local bank account.
You probably first encountered the bank code when you added a bank account to your PayPal account for transferring funds.
How to Find the Bank Code
You can access PayPal’s list of bank codes in the Philippines when you sign in to your account. Here’s what you must do after logging in:
- Click the “Wallet” link on the top menu.
- Under “Bank accounts,” click “Link a bank account.”
- Click the Add button.
- Click on the “List of bank codes” link next to the Bank Code field.
However, it’s quite hard to quickly find the BRSTN on PayPal’s list. If you need to quickly get BPI’s bank code, for example, here’s a more organized list that arranges banks alphabetically. Below, bank codes for the country’s top banks are listed separately for your easy reference.
Related: 7 Best Banks in the Philippines for Opening a Savings Account
Bank Codes of Philippine Banks
| Bank | Bank Code |
|---|---|
| Asia United Bank Corporation (AUB) | 011020011 |
| Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited | 010700015 |
| Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited | 010670019 |
| Bank of America, N.A. | 010120019 |
| Bank of China | 011140014 |
| Bank of Commerce | 010440016 |
| Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) | 010040018 |
| Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Limited | 010460012 |
| BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) | 010530667 |
| China Banking Corporation (China Bank) | 010100013 |
| China Bank Savings, Inc. | 011129996 |
| Citibank, N.A. | 010070017 |
| CIMB Bank | 018010011 |
| CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp. | 010690015 |
| Deutsche Bank AG | 010650013 |
| Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) | 010590018 |
| East West Banking Corporation (EastWest Bank) | 010620014 |
| Equicom Savings Bank, Inc. | 010960017 |
| Globe Xchange, Inc. (GCash) | 018040010 |
| First Consolidated Bank | 020780012 |
| The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd - Philippine Branch (HSBC Philippines) | 010060014 |
| Industrial Bank of Korea | 011310019 |
| ING Bank N.V. | 010660029 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | 010720011 |
| KEB Hana Bank | 010710018 |
| Land Bank of the Philippines | 010350025 |
| Maybank Philippines, Inc. | 010220016 |
| Mega International Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. | 010560019 |
| Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) | 010269996 |
| Mizuho Bank, Ltd. | 010640010 |
| MUFG Bank, Ltd., Manila Branch (formerly Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ) | 010460012 |
| Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCOM) | 010110016 |
| Philippine National Bank (PNB) | 010080010 |
| Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) | 010470992 |
| Philippine Veterans Bank | 010330016 |
| Philippine Trust Company | 010090039 |
| Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) | 010280014 |
| Robinsons Bank Corporation | 011070016 |
| Security Bank Corporation | 010140015 |
| Shinhan Bank | 011300016 |
| Standard Chartered Bank | 010050011 |
| Sterling Bank of Asia Inc. | 011190019 |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation | 011280013 |
| Tonik Digital Bank | 011570011 |
| Union Bank of the Philippines | 010419995 |
| United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) | 010299995 |
| United Overseas Bank Philippines | 010270341 |
| Yuanta Savings Bank (formerly Tong Yang Savings Bank) | 011130011 |
Can’t find your bank on the list? It could mean that PayPal doesn’t authorize withdrawals to your bank. Consider using another bank account or opening a new one.
Read more: Compare the Best Savings Accounts Online in the Philippines!
Final Thoughts
If you still can’t find your SWIFT code or bank code (or you’re having trouble completing your transaction using the code), call your bank immediately to verify the code and ask for assistance.
Venus is the Head of Editorial Content at Moneymax, with 15+ years of experience in digital marketing, corporate communications, PR, and journalism. She invests in stocks, mutual funds, VUL, and Pag-IBIG MP2. Outside of work, she’s crazy about cats and Korean dramas. Follow Venus on LinkedIn.
