A SWIFT code is a unique standardized international identifier for financial institutions and banks, used when making international wire transfers between banks. Banks use SWIFT codes to identify themselves and their customers in order to send or receive money.

If you’re making an international wire transfer, you’ll need the recipient’s SWIFT code in order to send them money. Without it, your bank may not be able to process the transfer. In some cases, the SWIFT code is also referred to as a BIC (Bank Identifier Code).

Let’s go deeper into what SWIFT codes are and how they are used. We’ll also provide a list of SWIFT codes for banks in Hong Kong to help you when making bank transfers at the end of the article.

What is SWIFT Code?

A SWIFT code is a unique identification code assigned to financial institutions to facilitate international money transfers, making it a key requirement to have the correct code for the relevant institution. 

When is the SWIFT Code needed?

SWIFT Codes are needed during bank transfers, especially international transfers. To send or receive money via international wire transfer, both the sender and recipient banks will need to input a SWIFT code. This helps to ensure that the money ends up in the correct bank account and that both banks are able to process the transaction. 

The Format of SWIFT Code

A SWIFT code consists of eight or eleven characters, including four characters for the bank code, two characters for the country code, and two characters for the location code. The last three codes are optional and represent the branch code, which is used to identify a specific branch of a bank.

For example, the BOCHK SWIFT code is BKCH-HK-HH-(XXX) (hyphenated for easier reading), where BKCH is the Bank code, HK is the Country code, HH is the Location code, and may be followed by the Branch code (XXX). 

List of SWIFT Codes for Popular Banks in Hong Kong

SWIFT codes for banks incorporated in Hong Kong

Bank codeBank Name (Eng)Bank Name (Chi)SWIFT Code
003STANDARD CHARTERED BANK (HONG KONG) LIMITED渣打銀行(香港)有限公司SCBLHKHH
004HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED (THE)香港上海滙豐銀行有限公司HSBCHKHH
009CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK (ASIA) CORPORATION LIMITED中國建設銀行(亞洲)股份有限公司CCBQHKAX
012BANK OF CHINA (HONG KONG) LIMITED中國銀行(香港)有限公司BKCHHKHH
015BANK OF EAST ASIA, LIMITED (THE)東亞銀行有限公司BEASHKHH
016DBS BANK (HONG KONG) LIMITED星展銀行(香港)有限公司DHBKHKHH
018CHINA CITIC BANK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED中信銀行(國際)有限公司KWHKHKHH
020CMB WING LUNG BANK LIMITED招商永隆銀行有限公司WUBAHKHH
024HANG SENG BANK, LIMITED恒生銀行有限公司HASEHKHH
025SHANGHAI COMMERCIAL BANK LIMITED上海商業銀行有限公司SCBKHKHH
028PUBLIC BANK (HONG KONG) LIMITED大眾銀行(香港)有限公司CBHKHKHH
029INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA (ASIA) LIMITED中國工商銀行(亞洲)有限公司UBHKHKHH
035OCBC WING HANG BANK LIMITED華僑永亨銀行有限公司WIHBHKHH
038TAI YAU BANK, LIMITED大有銀行有限公司TYBLHKKW
039CHIYU BANKING CORPORATION LIMITED集友銀行有限公司CIYUHKHH
040DAH SING BANK LIMITED大新銀行有限公司DSBAHKHH
041CHONG HING BANK LIMITED創興銀行有限公司LCHBHKHH
043NANYANG COMMERCIAL BANK, LIMITED南洋商業銀行有限公司NYCBHKHH
061TAI SANG BANK LIMITED大生銀行有限公司TSBLHKHH
128FUBON BANK (HONG KONG) LIMITED富邦銀行(香港)有限公司IBALHKHH
250CITIBANK (HONG KONG) LIMITED花旗銀行(香港)有限公司CITIHKAX
382BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS (HONG KONG) LIMITED交通銀行(香港)有限公司COMMHKHK
MORGAN STANLEY BANK ASIA LIMITED摩根士丹利銀行亞洲有限公司MSHKHKHX

SWIFT codes for virtual banks incorporated in Hong Kong

Bank codeBank Name (Eng)Bank Name (Chi)SWIFT Code
387ZA BANK LIMITED眾安銀行有限公司AABLHKHH
388LIVI BANK LIMITEDLIVIHKHH
389MOX BANK LIMITEDMOXBHKHK
390WELAB BANK LIMITED匯立銀行有限公司WEDIHKHH
391FUSION BANK LIMITED富融銀行有限公司IFFUHKHH
392PING AN ONECONNECT BANK (HONG KONG) LIMITED平安壹賬通銀行(香港)有限公司PONCHKHH
393ANT BANK (HONG KONG) LIMITED螞蟻銀行(香港)有限公司ASEHHKHH
395AIRSTAR BANK LIMITED天星銀行有限公司AIRRHKHH

SWIFT Code FAQs

Is the SWIFT code the same as IBAN?

No, SWIFT codes and IBANs are not the same. A SWIFT code is used when identifying a specific bank during international transactions. An IBAN is used to identify individual bank accounts in international transactions. IBANs can have up to 34 characters, while SWIFT codes are made up of up to 11 characters. 

An example of a SWIFT code is AAAAUS33, while an example of an IBAN is GB29NWBK60161331926819.  

What is the SWIFT Code for HSBC Hong Kong?

The SWIFT code for HSBC Hong Kong is HSBCHKHH. 

How to find the SWIFT Code of Standard Chartered Bank?

The SWIFT code for Standard Chartered Bank is SCBLHKHH. However, the best way to find the SWIFT code of Standard Chartered Bank is to visit the bank’s website. Alternatively, you can contact the bank directly and ask a customer service representative to provide you with the SWIFT code and other bank transfer details you may need. 

What is the SWIFT Code for BOC HK?

The SWIFT code for BOC HK is BKCHHKHH.

What is the SWIFT Code for Citibank HK?

The SWIFT code for Citibank HK is CITIHKAX.