Branch Identifier Code

midlifer

I am abroad for a couple of months, just before I come back to the UK I want to send some funds to my UK bank account.


I have the IBAN which I will need, I may not need the BIC but I want to go to the bank prepared (I am unable to send the funds online like I sent them from the UK).


I am not sure of one of the letters in the BIC between the "21" and "25", here is a cut and paste from Google.


HLFXGB21I25


Actually this site has interpreted it as an "I" so problem solved.
On google it looked like this "l" so was not sure if it was a small i or small l.


Also apparently I need a routing number, where do I get this from?

Archi_Bald

You must provide the IBAN and the BIC. These are shown in your Halifax online banking.

midlifer

You are correct, both the IBAN and BIC are shown in online banking.


Are only capital letters used in the BIC, no lower case letters?


Where do I get the routing number from?

agrinnall

Routing number appears to be the US equivalent of sortcode, I can't see why you would need it for a payment into a UK account (which is lucky, as I don't believe it exists). Are you in the USA? If they don't understand you'll need to convince them that BIC/IBAN is all they need.

Gilbo_Baggins

The routing code is our version of the swift code. But your iban will contain all the information needed, but I suppose depends on where in world you are they might ask for more info.

henm2

Halifax's Swift/BIC code is HLFXGB21
For payments within europe all the rest of the information required is contained in the IBAN number.For payments to the UK from USA there is no routing number. The US banks will want the swift code, name and address of the UK bank, name and address of the beneficiary and the plain 8 digit account number (They don't use IBANs)

midlifer

Thanks for the replies.


I am in South Africa.

agrinnall

The website of Standard Bank South Africa (the first one that come up in my search) says this:

Sending money
Apart from relevant documents, you will need to provide your beneficiaries details and bank account details (if applicable) as well as a routing number, sorting code or IBAN number, to ensure that the funds reach the correct destination.

Note the or (bolded by me) - you have an IBAN so I don't see why they would want anything else. I did find something else that suggests SA banks don't have IBANs so it's possible branch staff may not be familiar with them.