What is swift code for bank of america

Your Guide to Bank of America SWIFT Codes

• What Is a SWIFT Code
• Bank of America SWIFT Code
• How It Is Used
• SWIFT Code vs. Routing Number

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When transferring money between banks, the sending bank has to have some way to identify the bank it’s transferring the funds to. In the case of international money transfers, banks use a SWIFT code, which is a bank identification code that uniquely identifies the receiving bank. Here’s everything you need to know about your Bank of America SWIFT code, including how this number is different from your routing number.

What Is a SWIFT Code?

A SWIFT code — also known as a bank identifier code  — is used for international wire transfers. The code identifies the bank where the money is being sent.

Here’s a breakdown of the characters used in Bank of America’s SWIFT code and what they mean:

• Characters one through four: Identify Bank of America using an abbreviation of the bank’s name
• Characters five and six: Two-letter country code identifying the United States as the country where Bank of America is located
• Characters seven and eight: Two-character code representing the city where Bank of America’s head office is located

How To Find Your Bank of America SWIFT Code

Bank of America, Member FDIC, has two SWIFT codes — one for U.S. dollars and one for foreign currency. If you’re unsure of the type of currency in your account, you should default to the SWIFT code for U.S. dollars, according to Bank of America.

You can find Bank of America’s SWIFT codes here.

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How Is Your Bank of America SWIFT Code Used?

Your Bank of America SWIFT code will allow you to receive money from an international bank. For example, if you run a business and a customer who lives and banks in a foreign country wants to wire you money using a SWIFT code, these are the steps the customer would take:

1. Your customer will contact his local bank and request that a payment be sent to your Bank of America account.
2. The customer will be required to provide his bank with your name and bank routing number, the amount to be transferred and Bank of America’s SWIFT code.
3. The customer’s bank will debit his account for the amount requested to be transferred to you.
4. The customer’s bank will send your name and bank account information, along with Bank of America’s SWIFT code for incoming foreign currency, to Bank of America, so that the amount owed can be properly credited to you.

Related: Here’s How To Find Your Bank of America Routing Number

Bank of America SWIFT Code vs. Routing Number

Bank of America’s routing numbers and SWIFT codes might seem like the same type of identifying numbers, but they’re not. Here’s an FAQ section to break down the differences:

What are SWIFT codes and routing numbers used for?

SWIFT codes are used for international transactions of an electronic nature, including buying and selling securities, transferring money and corporate actions, notifications and instructions. Routing numbers are used for domestic electronic transactions, including funds transfer, direct deposit, bill payments and digital checks.

Also Check Out: Here’s How To Find Your Bank of America Routing Number

Who developed the SWIFT code or routing number?

SWIFT codes were developed by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, which is a global member-owned cooperative that serves as the worldwide leader in secure financial messaging services such as the SWIFT network.

The ABA routing number was developed by the American Bankers Association. The ABA represents banks of all sizes and types, particularly those with $250 million or less in assets.

How many characters are in a SWIFT code or a routing number?

A SWIFT code is composed of eight or 11 characters. The reason there’s variance is that characters 9, 10 and 11 are optional. An ABA routing number is composed of nine numbers.

What other names are used to refer to a SWIFT code or routing number?

A SWIFT code is also known as a BIC, BIC code or bank identifier code. A routing number is also known as an ABA number, a check routing number and a routing transit number, or RTN.

Want to know more? Check out SWIFT Codes: What They Are and How To Find Them.

Information is accurate as of Sept. 21, 2022.

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