South Africa Bank Branch Code Lookup
Find any South African bank branch code instantly. Covers FNB, ABSA, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Capitec and all major SARB-registered banks. Includes SWIFT codes for international transfers.
Universal Branch Codes: Quickest Answer
For most EFT transfers, use the universal code. You do not need the specific branch code.
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South Africa uses universal branch codes for all major banks. In most cases, you can use the code above for any branch nationwide. You do not need to find the specific branch code for a city or suburb.
6-digit South African bank branch code
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What Is a South African Bank Branch Code?
A South African bank branch code is a 6-digit number that identifies a specific bank branch within South Africa's domestic payment system. It is required for EFT (electronic fund transfer) payments between South African bank accounts. Every time someone sets up a salary payment, a debit order, or an interbank transfer, the branch code routes the money to the correct institution and branch.
The good news for most South Africans is that you almost never need to know a specific branch's 6-digit code anymore. The major banks have all introduced universal branch codes, a single code that works for any branch of that bank anywhere in the country. FNB's universal code is 250655. ABSA's is 632005. Standard Bank's is 051001. Nedbank's is 198765. Capitec's is 470010. These are the codes the table above shows, and they cover the vast majority of EFT transfers in South Africa today.
You might still need a specific branch code if you are dealing with an older system, a smaller bank, or a municipality that has not updated its payment infrastructure to accept universal codes. That is what the search tool above handles.
Branch Code vs SWIFT Code: Domestic vs International
Branch codes are for payments that stay within South Africa. SWIFT codes (also called BIC codes) are for international transfers. If you are in the UK, Australia, or Canada and want to send money directly to a South African bank account, you need the SWIFT code, not the branch code.
The SWIFT codes for the big five are: FNB is FIRNZAJJ, ABSA is ABSAZAJJ, Standard Bank is SBZAZAJJ, Nedbank is NEDZAJJJ, and Capitec is CABLZAJJ. You also need the recipient's full account number and full name as registered on the account. The branch code is irrelevant for incoming international transfers.
If you are receiving money from abroad, give the sender your bank's SWIFT code and your account number. Do not give them the branch code; most international wire transfer systems do not have a field for it and will not know what to do with it. Services like Wise, WorldRemit, and Mukuru handle the currency conversion and local delivery automatically, so the sender typically only needs your bank name and account number on their platform.
How to Receive an International Wire Transfer into Your South African Account
To receive a SWIFT wire transfer from abroad into your FNB, ABSA, Standard Bank, or Nedbank account, give the sender exactly these details: your bank's SWIFT code, your account number, your full name as it appears on the account, and the bank's physical address (usually the head office address works). Your branch code is not needed and should not be included.
For FNB: SWIFT FIRNZAJJ, FNB bank address 4 First Place, Bank City, Johannesburg, 2001. For ABSA: SWIFT ABSAZAJJ, ABSA Towers, 160 Main Street, Johannesburg, 2001. For Standard Bank: SWIFT SBZAZAJJ, Standard Bank Centre, 5 Simmonds Street, Johannesburg, 2001. For Nedbank: SWIFT NEDZAJJJ, Nedbank Head Office, 135 Rivonia Road, Sandown, 2196.
Receiving from Europe? Use our IBAN Validator to verify the sender's bank details. Sending from the US? Check our ABA Routing Number Checker. Compare transfer fees on our Send Money to South Africa comparison page.
Branch code data sourced from South African Reserve Bank (SARB) registered institutions. Always confirm codes with your bank before large transfers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A South African bank branch code is a 6-digit number that identifies a specific bank branch within South Africa's domestic payment system. It is used for EFT payments to route money between SA bank accounts. Most major banks now have a single universal branch code that works for all their branches nationwide.
FNB's universal branch code is 250655. This single code works for all FNB branches and accounts nationwide. You do not need to find the specific FNB branch code for a particular city or branch. Simply enter 250655 for any FNB EFT transfer.
ABSA's universal branch code is 632005. This code works for all ABSA branches across South Africa. Whether the recipient banks at ABSA in Johannesburg, Cape Town, or Durban, you can use 632005 as the branch code for any EFT transfer.
For most South Africans, use the universal branch code: FNB 250655, ABSA 632005, Standard Bank 051001, Nedbank 198765, Capitec 470010. You can also find it in your bank's mobile app, on your bank statements, by calling the helpline, or using the search tool above.
For domestic SA EFT transfers, use the 6-digit branch code. For international wire transfers into a South African account, the sender needs the bank's SWIFT code. FNB is FIRNZAJJ, ABSA is ABSAZAJJ, Standard Bank is SBZAZAJJ, Nedbank is NEDZAJJJ, Capitec is CABLZAJJ. The branch code is irrelevant for international transfers.
Yes. Capitec's universal branch code is 470010. Capitec operates as a single nationwide entity, so 470010 is the only branch code you will ever need for any Capitec account. For international transfers into Capitec, the SWIFT code is CABLZAJJ.
Standard Bank's universal branch code is 051001. This code works for all Standard Bank accounts in South Africa. For international transfers into Standard Bank, the SWIFT code is SBZAZAJJ.