A correspondent bank holds accounts for other banks and settles their cross-border payments. When your transfer changes currency or crosses borders, it usually moves through one or more of them.
Start typing the SWIFT/BIC code and select the bank from the list
Correspondent banks involved in most cross-border funds transfers via SWIFT. Banks (respondents) open accounts in large financial institutions to settle the payments between each other. Those accounts called Nostro.
Standard Settlement Instructions (SSI) - default instructions of a bank or other financial institution for the payments and delivery of securities. In cross-border payments usually, it is a list of nostro accounts in correspondent banks.
While normally Standard Settlement Instructions are stored in a SWIFTRef database, and most of the banks involved in cross-border payments can access this information, sometimes it is useful to check them yourself in advance. Examples of such situations:
The largest correspondent banks for USD currency are:
For US-based USD correspondents we also provide the ABA Routing Number (also known as the Fedwire routing number) alongside the SWIFT/BIC code. This is useful when the payment has to be routed through a US domestic bank that does not accept SWIFT/BIC codes. Fedwire transfers inside the United States require the 9-digit ABA number instead of, or in addition to, the BIC.
There are 3 ways how to get a list of correspondents for a specific bank including their SWIFT codes:
Usually, it is a list of currencies, correspondent banks and account numbers in those banks. Here is an example for Hipotekarna Banka:
Some of the banks share the list of correspondent banks on their official web sites. For example, Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nuertingen or RAIFFEISENLANDESBANK.
We understand that finding a bank by a SWIFT/BIC code or a name could be challenging. You can select a country below and find a bank in the list. After that you will be able to get its correspondents banks and other useful information related to SWIFT money transfers.
Fraudsters use correspondent banking information for Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks, impersonating banks to steal funds or payment credentials.
Suspect fraud? Report it to your bank immediately and to Action Fraud (UK) or your local authorities. Learn more about payment fraud
What is a correspondent bank?
A correspondent bank is a financial institution that provides services on behalf of another (respondent) bank, mainly to settle cross-border payments. Respondent banks open accounts at correspondent banks so they can move money between each other in different currencies.
What is a nostro account?
A nostro account is an account a bank holds at a correspondent bank, usually in a foreign currency, and uses to settle international payments. The same account seen from the correspondent's side is called a vostro account.
What are Standard Settlement Instructions (SSI)?
Standard Settlement Instructions are a bank's default instructions for receiving payments and securities. In cross-border payments they are typically a list of the bank's nostro accounts at correspondent banks, one per currency.
How do I find a bank's correspondent banks?
You can ask the bank directly, check its website for published SSI, or look it up by SWIFT/BIC code on Ohmyfin. Enter the bank's SWIFT/BIC code in the lookup above to retrieve its correspondent banks, nostro accounts and currency coverage.
Create a free account to look up correspondent banks and nostro accounts for any SWIFT/BIC. Settlement instruction reports are available for thousands of banks worldwide.
Everything on this page is also available from the Ohmyfin API: verify SWIFT/BIC codes, screen names against 290+ sanctions lists, and pull country banking rules. The public API needs no signup (3 requests a day per IP), and a free API key raises your limit.
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