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Barclays vs HSBC SWIFT Codes & Sort Code Comparison
Barclays and HSBC are major UK retail and commercial clearing banks. For international routing, Barclays uses the primary head office BIC BARCGB22, while HSBC routes international transactions via MIDLGB22.
UK Routing Key Facts
| Feature | Barclays Bank | HSBC Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Head Office BIC | BARCGB22 | MIDLGB22 |
| Institution Name | Barclays Bank PLC | HSBC Bank PLC |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Sort Code Range | 20-xx-xx | 40-xx-xx |
| IBAN Format | 22 Characters (starts with GB) | 22 Characters (starts with GB) |
| Domestic Networks | Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS | Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS |
The Legacy of MIDLGB22
HSBC's UK routing code MIDLGB22 is derived from Midland Bank, which was one of the largest UK clearing banks before its acquisition by HSBC Group in 1992. Today, Midland Bank's legacy infrastructure remains integrated under HSBC's primary clearing lines. Barclays maintains its traditional BARCGB22 routing vector. Both institutions support domestic GBP clearings through Faster Payments (FPS) for real-time transfers up to £1 million.
Citations & Primary Sources
- 🌐 ISO 13616 / ISO 9362: The international standards governing IBAN account structures and Business Identifier Codes (BICs).
- 🏢 SWIFT cooperative: The operational registrar managing interbank codes and databases (swift.com).
- 🏦 Central Banks (Bundesbank, Federal Reserve, Pay.UK): Clearing authorities publishing national routing regulations.
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