What is the SWIFT code for Wells Fargo Bank?

The SWIFT/BIC code for Wells Fargo Bank is WFBIUS6S, identifying the bank's head office in San Francisco, United States. Use it as the receiver-bank BIC when initiating an international wire transfer.

Is WFBIUS6S an 8- or 11-character SWIFT code?

WFBIUS6S is an 8-character BIC — the bank's primary (head-office) code. An 11-character form would append a branch code (often XXX for the primary office).

Where do I find the SWIFT code for Wells Fargo Bank?

It is shown on bank statements and in online banking, or you can ask Wells Fargo Bank directly. You can also decode WFBIUS6S in the SWIFT/BIC lookup on this site. Always confirm the code with the receiving bank before sending funds.

What's the difference between WFBIUS6S and a routing number?

A SWIFT/BIC code identifies a bank for cross-border payments, while a routing number (ABA) is used for domestic US transfers. For an international wire to Wells Fargo Bank, you need the SWIFT code; for a domestic US transfer you need the routing number.

Bank SWIFT code

Wells Fargo SWIFT Code — WFBIUS6S

San Francisco, United States · BIC WFBIUS6S

SWIFT / BIC

WFBIUS6S

Bank code

WFBI

Country

Location

Branch

XXX (primary office)

Head office city

San Francisco

BIC length

8 characters (primary office)

What each part of WFBIUS6S means

A SWIFT/BIC code is read left to right in four blocks.

WFBI

Bank code

4 letters — the institution (here, the bank prefix)

Country code

2 letters — ISO 3166 country

Location code

2 characters — city/region; a digit often means a test code

XXX

Branch code

3 characters — XXX marks the primary office

Wells Fargo branch code information

The bank-specific identifier on this page is the WFBIUS6S BIC base. Its first four characters (WFBI) identify Wells Fargo; the next two (US) identify United States; and the location block (6S) identifies the registered San Francisco office or processing centre. An eight-character BIC can be written as an eleven-character primary-office code by appending XXX: WFBIUS6SXXX. This is the bank's own code pattern, not a generic routing number.

Code form	Meaning for Wells Fargo	When to use it
WFBIUS6S	Registered San Francisco office BIC	Default when the beneficiary gives this code
WFBIUS6SXXX	Primary office form with XXX suffix	Forms that require 11 characters
WFBIUS6S + 3 letters/digits	A specific Wells Fargo branch BIC	Only after the receiving branch confirms the suffix

Branch suffixes are not safely guessable from a city name. Banks can change branch identifiers, merge offices, or route all inbound wires through a central office. Treat WFBIUS6SXXX as the primary-office example and ask Wells Fargo or the beneficiary for any other eleven-character suffix.

How to use this SWIFT code

Use WFBIUS6S as the receiver bank SWIFT/BIC code when initiating an international wire transfer to Wells Fargo Bank. Combine it with the recipient's account number and full name. Double-check the code with Wells Fargo Bank or the recipient before sending — branch-specific BICs can differ from the head-office code.

How to send an international wire to Wells Fargo

Ask the beneficiary for their legal name, full address, account number or IBAN, currency, and the exact Wells Fargo BIC. Keep the original spelling.
Choose an international wire or SWIFT payment in your bank's app. Enter WFBIUS6S in the receiver-bank SWIFT/BIC field; use WFBIUS6SXXX only if the form insists on eleven characters.
Enter the beneficiary account or IBAN without spaces, then provide the bank name (Wells Fargo Bank), city (San Francisco), and country (United States) exactly as requested by the sending form.
Select the payment currency and charges option (OUR, SHA, or BEN). Check correspondent-bank instructions for USD, EUR, GBP, or other currencies because the intermediary can differ from the receiver BIC.
Review the confirmation screen character by character. A single wrong BIC letter, country code, account digit, or beneficiary name can trigger a repair, return, or compliance hold.
Save the payment reference and monitor the status. If the transfer is pending, contact the sending bank first with the reference; the receiver can then trace it with Wells Fargo.

Common Wells Fargo SWIFT mistakes

Head office is not a branch. The eight-character BIC and its XXX version identify the primary office. A branch-specific suffix must come from the beneficiary or Wells Fargo; do not invent one from a postcode.

Country letters matter. The country block in this BIC is US. A visually similar code with another country block belongs to another legal entity and can send a payment down the wrong compliance route.

SWIFT is not an account number. The BIC identifies Wells Fargo; the IBAN or local account number identifies the customer. Both fields are required for most cross-border payments.

Do not rely on search snippets. Old directories may show a closed branch or an outdated correspondent. Confirm the current code on the beneficiary's statement or directly with Wells Fargo before releasing funds.

A practical checklist for Wells Fargo payments

Before submitting, compare the beneficiary's payment instructions with the BIC shown above, then validate the IBAN when the destination country supports IBAN. Check whether your bank needs an intermediary BIC, a purpose-of-payment code, tax information, or a supporting invoice. Keep a copy of the invoice and the transfer receipt. The receiving bank may ask for source-of-funds evidence, especially for a first payment, a large corporate amount, or a transfer involving a restricted currency. These checks are normal and do not mean the BIC is invalid.

Timing depends on currency, correspondent banks, holidays, cut-off times, sanctions screening, and whether the beneficiary details pass automated validation. A correct BIC cannot guarantee same-day delivery. If funds have not arrived after the quoted window, ask the sending bank for a SWIFT payment trace (often an MT103 or equivalent) and give that reference to Wells Fargo's receiving team.

Receiving money at Wells Fargo

A beneficiary can usually obtain the correct details from a monthly statement, a bank certificate, or the international-payments screen in online banking. Ask for the bank's legal name rather than a brand nickname, the registered city, the BIC, and the account identifier in the format used by the destination country. If the account is held by a company, request the exact registered name and address; a trading name can fail a name screening check even when the BIC is correct. For a personal account, use the name as printed on the identity document or bank record. Keep diacritics and middle names when the sending form supports them.

The BIC is a routing label, not proof that an account exists. It does not reveal the beneficiary, balance, currency, or branch address. Payment systems combine the BIC with account data, beneficiary details, amount, currency, and a purpose or reference. If a sender has only a bank name, stop and obtain the full instructions before sending. A directory result can be useful for identifying the bank prefix, but it should never be treated as a substitute for an account-specific confirmation. This is especially important when a bank has multiple legal entities in the same country or operates a subsidiary with a similar name.

Fees can be deducted by the sending bank, a correspondent, or the receiving bank. OUR generally asks the sender to cover charges, SHA splits them, and BEN deducts them from the beneficiary's amount; availability varies by bank and currency. Exchange rates are also set by the institutions processing the payment. Before confirming, compare the quoted fee, rate, expected arrival window, and the amount the beneficiary should receive. For recurring invoices, store the verified BIC and beneficiary record in your banking address book, but re-confirm it after a merger, account change, or unusual payment request. Fraudsters often send replacement instructions from a look-alike email address.

When a payment is returned, the reason is often a mismatched name, invalid account format, missing intermediary detail, unsupported currency, or a compliance review. Ask the sending bank for the exact reject or return code and the payment message reference. The beneficiary should ask Wells Fargo whether the funds reached an internal suspense account and what documents are needed for release. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced; duplicate wires are difficult to recover and can create a second compliance review. Once the bank confirms the correction, resend only the fields that were wrong and keep the original reference with your records.

All United States SWIFT codes Open in SWIFT code lookup →

Wells Fargo Bank SWIFT code FAQ

What is the SWIFT code for Wells Fargo Bank?: The SWIFT/BIC code for Wells Fargo Bank is WFBIUS6S, identifying the bank's head office in San Francisco, United States. Use it as the receiver-bank BIC when initiating an international wire transfer.
Is WFBIUS6S an 8- or 11-character SWIFT code?: WFBIUS6S is an 8-character BIC — the bank's primary (head-office) code. An 11-character form would append a branch code (often XXX for the primary office).
Where do I find the SWIFT code for Wells Fargo Bank?: It is shown on bank statements and in online banking, or you can ask Wells Fargo Bank directly. You can also decode WFBIUS6S in the SWIFT/BIC lookup on this site. Always confirm the code with the receiving bank before sending funds.
What's the difference between WFBIUS6S and a routing number?: A SWIFT/BIC code identifies a bank for cross-border payments, while a routing number (ABA) is used for domestic US transfers. For an international wire to Wells Fargo Bank, you need the SWIFT code; for a domestic US transfer you need the routing number.

⚠️ BIC data reflects the head-office code from public bank disclosures. Branch-specific SWIFT codes may differ — confirm with Wells Fargo Bank for exact routing before sending funds.