SWIFT / BIC Codes in South Africa

SWIFT/BIC codes for South Africa consist of 8 or 11 alphanumeric characters under ISO 9362. Characters 5 and 6 are 'ZA', the ISO 3166-1 country code for South Africa.

Our directory contains 271 SWIFT/BIC codes registered across 137 banks and 21 municipalities in South Africa.

Domestic transfers in South Africa clear via National Branch Code under South African Reserve Bank oversight (primary currency: ZAR). international inbound wire transfers and Rand cross-border clearing

SWIFT codes identify the beneficiary bank institution, while IBANs (ISO 13616) or account numbers identify the specific account holder. For cross-border wires, both the receiving bank's BIC and customer account number are generally required.

Cross-border transfers to South Africa typically process within 1 to 5 business days, depending on correspondent banking links, time zone cut-offs, and compliance checks.

An 8-character BIC specifies an institution's primary head office in South Africa. An 11-character BIC appends a 3-character branch suffix to target a specific branch location or department.

Using an incorrect code can delay execution, cause transaction returns, or incur administrative bounce fees from intermediary institutions. Verify all routing details with your beneficiary beforehand.

SWIFT/BIC codes are assigned and registered internationally by SWIFT as the ISO 9362 Registration Authority, not directly issued by central bank authorities unless integrated into national clearing directories.

You can look up the bank name and location in our South Africa directory, and confirm the exact code directly with the receiving beneficiary or branch documentation.

Data for South Africa is compiled from open community BIC reference records (2024 vintage).