16 Apr 2026
If you hold an account with Banca Comerciala Romana — Romania's second largest bank — and need to receive money from abroad, or if someone overseas is sending funds directly into your BCR account, the SWIFT code is the single most critical detail to get right. This guide covers everything: the correct Banca Comerciala Romana SWIFT codes, what each character means, how international transfers work through BCR, what common mistakes to avoid, and exactly how to find your details when you need them.
According to the National Bank of Romania, Romanians abroad sent over EUR 6.7 billion back home in 2024 — close to 2% of the country's entire GDP — making Romania one of Europe's most remittance-dependent economies and BCR one of the most important receiving institutions for international wire transfers.
Romania uses several distinct banking identifiers depending on the type of transfer being made. Knowing which code applies to which situation prevents delays, errors, and failed payments.
IBAN — International Bank Account Number is used to identify your specific account for both domestic and international transfers in Romania. Romanian IBANs begin with RO and are 24 characters long, encoding your bank identifier and account number within the string.
SWIFT codes — also called BIC codes — identify the bank as an institution during international wire transfers. While the IBAN identifies your account, the SWIFT code identifies Banca Comerciala Romana as the receiving bank. Both are required together for incoming international transfers.
Sort codes and domestic routing codes within Romania are used for transfers between Romanian banks through the national payment infrastructure, separate from the international SWIFT network.
Understanding how IBAN and SWIFT codes work together is essential for anyone sending or receiving money across Romanian borders.
Banca Comerciala Romana — universally known as BCR — was established on 1 December 1990, taking over the commercial banking operations of the National Bank of Romania as the country transitioned to a market economy. In 2006, the Austrian banking group Erste Group acquired a controlling stake in BCR for EUR 3.75 billion, and today BCR operates as Erste Group's primary Romanian subsidiary.
In 2024, BCR held a 14.29% market share of total Romanian banking assets, positioning it as the second largest bank in Romania, with total assets of 142.72 billion RON. (TheBanks.eu) BCR provides universal banking services — retail, corporate, investment banking, treasury, and capital markets — through an extensive network of branches, ATMs, and its digital banking platform George, which has become one of Romania's most widely used mobile banking apps.
The primary SWIFT code for Banca Comerciala Romana is:
RNCBROBUXXX
This is the head office SWIFT code registered to BCR's Bucharest headquarters and is the standard code used for receiving international wire transfers into a Romanian BCR account. It is the code to provide to anyone sending money to you from outside Romania.
BCR also confirmed on its official website that the SWIFT code RNCBROBU is required for all currency transfers in Romania and for all international transfers into BCR accounts.
BCR maintains multiple registered SWIFT codes across its Romanian operations. The key codes you may encounter are:
For the vast majority of personal and business customers receiving standard international transfers, RNCBROBUXXX is the correct and safe code to use. If a sender's bank requires a branch-specific code, verify the correct code directly with BCR and check whether different banca comerciala romana branches use a different suffix before sharing it.
Breaking down RNCBROBUXXX:
All SWIFT codes are either 8 or 11 characters in total. An 8-character code or one ending in XXX always refers to the head office. A full 11-character code with a unique 3-digit suffix identifies a specific branch.
When someone abroad is sending money to your BCR account, they will typically need the following:
Always provide both your IBAN and the BCR SWIFT code together. Confirm the recipient details and code before the transfer is sent. The SWIFT code directs the payment to Banca Comerciala Romana as an institution. The IBAN directs BCR to your specific account. Providing only one without the other is incomplete and will typically result in a failed or delayed transfer.
Romania received remittances totalling EUR 6.5 billion from its diaspora in 2023 alone — EUR 350 million more than the previous year — with the National Bank of Romania noting that remittances from Romanians abroad now equate to the level of foreign direct investment entering the country.
For payments within Romania between Romanian bank accounts, SWIFT codes are not involved. Domestic Romanian transfers are processed through the national interbank payment system using IBANs and bank identifiers within Romania's domestic infrastructure. These systems operate entirely separately from the international SWIFT network.
If a Romania-based sender is paying you from a Romanian bank account, they only need your IBAN — not the BCR SWIFT code. SWIFT codes are exclusively for cross-border international transfers.
When money arrives at BCR from another country, it travels through the international SWIFT network. The sending bank uses RNCBROBUXXX to identify Banca Comerciala Romana within the global SWIFT system. The payment instruction then travels — sometimes directly, sometimes via one or more correspondent banks — until it reaches BCR's systems in Bucharest. BCR then credits the funds to your specific account using your IBAN.
Most international wire transfers to BCR arrive within one to five business days. The exact timing depends on the sending country, the currencies involved, the sending institution's schedule, and whether the transfer passes through correspondent banks along the route.
You need the Banca Comerciala Romana SWIFT code in these specific situations:
European countries use IBAN as the primary identifier for individual accounts in international transfers. Romania fully uses the IBAN system, and all BCR accounts come with a 24-character Romanian IBAN beginning with RO. When receiving a transfer from Europe, you need both your BCR IBAN and the SWIFT code RNCBROBUXXX. The SWIFT code identifies BCR as the receiving institution. The IBAN identifies your specific account within BCR. Providing only one without the other will typically result in a failed or returned transfer.
Routing numbers are nine-digit codes used within the United States domestic banking system to identify banks for domestic US transfers. They have no role in international transfers leaving the US and arriving in Romania. If someone in the United States is sending a wire transfer to your BCR account, they need your Romanian IBAN and RNCBROBUXXX — not a routing number. The SWIFT code is the internationally recognised standard for cross-border transfers between the US and Romania.
IFSC codes — Indian Financial System Codes — identify specific bank branches within India's domestic payment network for NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS transfers. They operate exclusively within India and have no function in international cross-border transfers. If someone in India is sending an international wire to your BCR account, they use the BCR SWIFT code — RNCBROBUXXX — alongside your IBAN. IFSC codes are entirely irrelevant for transfers leaving the Indian banking system.
There are several reliable ways to locate your BCR account information and confirm the correct SWIFT code:
| Common Mistake | Why It’s Incorrect | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Using the SWIFT code for domestic Romanian transfers | SWIFT codes are only used for international transfers. Including one for a local Romanian payment may confuse the sender’s bank. | For domestic transfers within Romania, provide only the IBAN. |
| Writing the SWIFT code with spaces | Banks and payment systems may reject SWIFT codes that contain spaces, even if the characters are correct. | Always write the code as a single string: RNCBROBUXXX |
| Providing a SWIFT code without an IBAN | A SWIFT code alone cannot identify the recipient’s account. Most international transfers require both details. | Always provide both the SWIFT code and the recipient’s IBAN. |
| Using a branch-specific SWIFT code unnecessarily | Incorrect or outdated branch codes can cause routing delays or failed transfers. | For most transfers, use RNCBROBUXXX unless BCR specifically requests a branch code. |
| Not verifying details before large transfers | Third-party databases may contain outdated or inaccurate SWIFT information. | Confirm the SWIFT code through official BCR channels such as the George app, online banking, or customer support before sending high-value transfers. |
Yes, completely. Your SWIFT code is public information — it identifies Banca Comerciala Romana as an institution, not your personal account. Sharing it carries no financial risk.
Your IBAN is also safe to share for the purpose of receiving money. It allows someone to send funds to your account but cannot be used to access it, authorise payments from it, or expose any personal financial data.
What you should never share with anyone under any circumstances includes your BCR online banking username and password, your card PIN, one-time passcodes sent to your phone, or your full card number with expiry date and CVV. BCR will never ask for any of these through an unsolicited call, email, or text message. Any such request is a fraud attempt — report it to BCR immediately.
Whether you are receiving a salary from an overseas employer, collecting fees from an international client, or accepting remittances from family living abroad, the Banca Comerciala Romana SWIFT code — RNCBROBUXXX — is the essential identifier that makes international transfers possible. Pair it with your personal Romanian IBAN, which you can find instantly in the George app, and you give any sender worldwide everything they need to transfer funds directly to your BCR account.
For expats living abroad who regularly send money back to Romania into BCR accounts, choosing the right transfer platform makes a meaningful difference to the total amount received. You can learn more about sending money to Romania efficiently in ACE Money Transfer's guide: How to Send Money to Romania Online Safely.
If you are sending money internationally and looking for a fast, transparent, and cost-effective option, ACE delivers competitive exchange rates, direct BCR bank account delivery, and real-time transfer tracking — with no hidden fees at any stage of the process.
The primary SWIFT code for Banca Comerciala Romana S.A. is RNCBROBUXXX. This is registered to BCR's Bucharest head office and is the standard code for receiving international wire transfers into Romanian BCR accounts.
Yes. BCR maintains branch-specific SWIFT codes for certain operational units, identifiable by unique 3-digit suffixes such as AR0 or BUC. For most standard international transfers, RNCBROBUXXX — the head office code — is the correct and safe default.
Yes. The SWIFT code identifies BCR as the receiving institution. Your IBAN identifies your specific account within BCR. Both are required for a complete and accurate international transfer.
Most international wire transfers arrive within one to five business days. The exact timing depends on the sending country, the currencies involved, and whether the payment passes through correspondent banks. Transfers sent during Romanian banking hours on weekdays typically process most efficiently.
Yes. Using RNCBROBUXXX — the head office code — is the recommended approach when a branch-specific code is not available. BCR will route the funds to your account using your IBAN and account details.
