Hello everyone! As a newcomer to Spain, I’ve recently been dealing with some bank transfers and payments, and all the different codes were giving me a headache. IBAN, SWIFT, BIC, and something called an ‘Entidad Code’… After some research, I’ve finally figured out these codes for Banco Santander and wanted to share what I’ve learned with anyone else who might be confused. Hope this helps!
Core Codes: IBAN and SWIFT/BIC
To put it simply, these two codes are the most commonly used for both international and domestic transfers. The IBAN, in particular, is now essential for virtually all transfers within Spain.
IBAN
IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It’s your unique identifier for your bank account. In Spain, an IBAN typically consists of 24 characters with the following format: ESXX XXXX XXXX XX XXXXXXXXXX
- ES: The country code for Spain.
- XX: Two check digits.
- XXXX: The bank entity code. For Banco Santander, this is 0049.
- XXXX: The branch code.
- XX: Account check digits.
- XXXXXXXXXX: Your 10-digit personal account number.
So, for Banco Santander, everyone’s IBAN is unique and contains information about your bank, branch, and personal account. You can find your full IBAN number directly on the home page of your Banco Santander app or online banking portal.
SWIFT/BIC
This code is primarily used for international transfers and acts as the bank’s address in the global financial network. All Banco Santander accounts within Spain use the same SWIFT/BIC code, so you don’t need to worry about your code being different from others—it’s standardized.
The SWIFT/BIC code for Banco Santander is: BSCHESMMXXX
The XXX part can sometimes vary depending on the specific branch, but for the vast majority of personal international transfers, you can simply use BSCHESMM, and the banking system will process it correctly.
Other Relevant Codes
Besides the two most important ones mentioned above (which are more relevant to customers than news about Santander’s profits), you might also encounter some other codes with your Banco Santander account. Let’s cover them briefly.
| Code Type | Corresponding Santander Code | Main Purpose |
|---|
| Bank Entity Code | 0049 | Used to identify the bank; it’s part of the IBAN |
| NIF | A39000013 | The bank’s tax identification number, generally not needed for personal transactions |
For everyday use, just remember two key points: Use IBAN for domestic transfers, and provide both your IBAN + SWIFT/BIC to receive international payments. I hope this summary helps! If anything is unclear, feel free to discuss it in the comments below!
