For those of you who have just arrived in Spain, many have probably opened an account with Santander, right? It’s one of Spain’s largest banks, with numerous branches making it very convenient. However, when family wants to send you living expenses from back home, one ‘little thing’ can often be confusing: the SWIFT/BIC code.
A friend recently asked me about this, so I decided to put together a guide for anyone else who might need it. It’s not as complicated as it seems with Santander Bank; you just need to remember the universal SWIFT/BIC code that Santander uses throughout Spain. Think of this code as the bank’s ‘ID number’ in the international financial network. Getting it right ensures your money arrives quickly and accurately.
Santander’s SWIFT/BIC Code
Let’s get straight to the point. The SWIFT/BIC code for Banco Santander in Spain is: BSCHESMMXXX
Does it look like a random string of characters? Don’t worry, let’s break down what each part means:
- BSCH: This is the bank code, standing for Banco Santander Central Hispano.
- ES: This is the country code for Spain (España).
- MM: This is the location code, representing Madrid, where the bank’s headquarters is located.
- XXX: This is the branch code. For the head office or by default, it’s often XXX. When transferring to a personal account, this part can sometimes be left blank or filled with XXX, as the banking system will recognize it automatically. So whether you enter
BSCHESMM or BSCHESMMXXX, the transfer will be processed correctly. This efficiency is part of what contributes to things like Santander Bank profits; for your purposes, just know both codes work.
Wire Transfer Information Guide
Besides the SWIFT code, the sending bank will usually require the following information. To make it easier for you, I’ve created a simple table:
| Field | What to Enter | Notes |
|---|
| Beneficiary’s Name | Your name in Latin alphabet | Make sure the first and last name order is correct! |
| Beneficiary’s Account Number | Your IBAN number | Usually a 24-character number starting with ES |
| Beneficiary Bank Name | Banco Santander, S.A. | Just copy this |
| SWIFT/BIC Code | BSCHESMMXXX or BSCHESMM | Both work, the one with XXX is recommended |
| Beneficiary Bank Address | Ciudad Grupo Santander, Av. de Cantabria, s/n, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid | This is Santander’s headquarters address |
A few final tips: when making an international transfer through your mobile banking app, it’s best to state the purpose as ‘Living Expenses’ or ‘Tuition Fees’ in the reference/memo field, as this can speed up the approval process. Also, try to avoid sending an amount that is exactly at the annual foreign exchange limit, as this might trigger additional reviews. I hope this post is helpful! If you have any more questions about Santander Bank, feel free to leave a comment and discuss below!
