Nepal Commercial Bank SWIFT Codes 2026: Complete & Verified List

Last updated: September 2026 · Reviewed by Wilson Shrestha, freelance web developer, Kathmandu

Every commercial bank in Nepal has a unique SWIFT/BIC code, and getting even one letter wrong can delay — or bounce back — an international transfer. Below is the full, independently checked list of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) licensed "Class A" commercial bank SWIFT codes, plus the five codes that are most commonly published incorrectly across the Nepali web, so you can send or receive money with confidence.

What Is a SWIFT/BIC Code?

A SWIFT code, formally a Business Identifier Code (BIC), is the address banks use to route money and messages to each other over the SWIFT network. It is assigned to a bank by SWIFT itself — never guessed from the bank's brand name — which is exactly why a few Nepali banks (Nabil being the best-known example) have SWIFT codes that don't match their trading name at all.

A Nepali bank's code follows this pattern:

Most Nepali banks use one primary code for the whole bank (head office), so the 8-character version (e.g. NARBNPKA) and the 11-character version (NARBNPKAXXX) refer to the same bank. Use whichever length the sending bank or remittance form asks for.

Nepal Commercial Bank (Class A) SWIFT Codes — Full List

Nepal Rastra Bank currently licenses 20 "Class A" commercial banks. These are the institutions people usually mean when they search for a "Nepal commercial bank SWIFT code" — as opposed to development banks or finance companies, which sit in a different licence class (more on that below).

5 Nepal Bank SWIFT Codes That Get Published Wrong

While researching this list we cross-checked every code against each bank's own official page. Five codes showed up incorrectly on more than one existing "Nepal SWIFT code" directory — almost always because the code was guessed from the bank's name instead of taken from SWIFT's actual registry:

Nabil's case is the clearest example of why you should never derive a SWIFT code from a bank's current brand name: Nabil Bank's code starts with NARB — a legacy identifier from years ago — not NABI. SWIFT codes are assigned once and rarely change even after a rebrand, so the "obvious" guess based on today's name is often the wrong one.

How to Receive an International Wire Transfer in Nepal

Whoever is sending you money — a client, employer, or family member abroad — will typically ask for the following details:

1. Beneficiary's full name, exactly as it appears on your Nepal bank account.
2. Beneficiary account number — double-check every digit.
3. Bank name and SWIFT/BIC code from the list above.
4. Branch name and address where your account is held.
5. Purpose of payment — salary, freelance/service export, family maintenance, education, or business payment.
6. Charge instruction — ask whether the sender is using OUR (sender pays all fees), SHA (shared), or BEN (you pay all fees), since this affects how much actually lands in your account.

If a payment is delayed, ask the sender for the MT103 (the SWIFT payment message) and, if available, the UETR tracking reference — your bank can use these to trace exactly where the transfer is stuck.

SWIFT Code vs. Nepal's Domestic Transfer Systems

A SWIFT code only matters for cross-border payments. For moving money between two Nepali bank accounts, Nepal uses entirely separate domestic rails, and a SWIFT code plays no role in them:

• ConnectIPS — the interbank payment portal for bill payments and account-to-account transfers, identified by your account number and bank name, not a SWIFT code.
• NCHL (Nepal Clearing House Limited) — operates the electronic cheque clearing (ECC) and interbank fund transfer (IFT) systems that settle domestic transfers between member banks.
• Mobile wallets (eSewa, Khalti, IME Pay, etc.) — link to your local account number and mobile number; they never ask for a SWIFT code because they don't touch the international SWIFT network.

If a form is asking you for a "bank code" and you're moving money within Nepal, it almost certainly wants your bank's NCHL/branch code, not a SWIFT code — the two are unrelated identifiers.

SWIFT Code vs IBAN vs Account Number in Nepal

Sending Money Out of Nepal: What Regulates It

Outward remittance from Nepal — for education, business travel, medical treatment, or investment abroad — is governed by Nepal Rastra Bank's foreign exchange (forex) regulations, not by SWIFT itself. NRB sets which purposes qualify for foreign currency release, the documentation required for each category, and periodic limits that are revised from time to time.

Because these quotas and documentation rules change, this guide won't quote specific dollar limits here — instead, confirm the current allowance and paperwork directly with your bank's forex desk or NRB's published directives before applying. Your bank will also tell you whether the transfer needs to route through a specific correspondent bank based on the currency and destination country.

Development Bank & Finance Company (Class B & C) Codes

Strictly speaking, "commercial bank" refers only to NRB's 20 Class "A" licensees above. Development banks (Class B) and finance companies (Class C) are a different licence category, and not all of them route international transfers on their own SWIFT code — some settle through a correspondent commercial bank instead. If your institution isn't listed here or doesn't have its own code, ask them directly for their current inward-remittance instruction.

A Practical Tip From Running Payments for an IT & Design Business

If you invoice international clients for design, software, or consulting work — or you're moving funds between a trading or investment account and a Nepali bank — the SWIFT code is only half the job. The other half is agreeing the charge type (OUR/SHA/BEN) and purpose code upfront with your bank, because that's usually what determines whether the full amount lands, and how long compliance checks take. It's worth asking your bank once, in writing, for their standard inward-payment instruction sheet — then reusing it for every client instead of re-explaining it each time.

If you're setting up international payments for the first time, it also helps to understand how dollar cards in Nepal work for the outward side of things, and if you're channelling any of that income into the local market, our guide on how to start investing in Nepal's share market is a useful next read.

Video Walkthrough: Finding & Using a Nepal Bank SWIFT Code

Frequently Asked Questions

Information last checked September 2026 against each Class A bank's own official website and Nepal Rastra Bank's licensed BFI list. Banking details occasionally change after mergers or rebranding — always confirm with the receiving bank before a large or time-critical transfer. This article is general information, not financial advice.