Making EFT’s and transfers between South African banks can be inconvenient and frustrating for customers at times. Loading a new beneficiary or recipient is not always the easiest process with certain banks and their banking apps. We often find ourselves double and triple-checking the details we enter to ensure the bank account numbers and branch codes are correct before sending a payment.
When using online banking or a banking app, customers usually need to enter a branch code. Several banks have adopted Universal Branch Codes, which means that the universal banking code for a certain bank can be used regardless of which branch the recipient’s bank account is kept at.
We have compiled a list of all South African Universal Bank Branch Codes below so that you can quickly find the one you need. We make every effort to keep it up to date for all banks. If you need to remember these codes, this is a useful resource page to bookmark.
List of South African Universal Bank Branch Codes
| BANK | BRANCH CODE | CLICK TO COPY |
|---|---|---|
| ABSA | 632 005 | Copy |
| African Bank | 430 000 | Copy |
| Al Baraka Bank | 800 000 | Copy |
| Bank of Athens | 410 506 | Copy |
| Bidvest Bank | 462 005 | Copy |
| Capitec Bank | 470 010 | Copy |
| Citi Bank | 350 005 | Copy |
| Discovery Bank Limited | 679 000 | Copy |
| First National Bank / FNB | 250 655 | Copy |
| FirstRand Bank - A subsidiary of First Rand Limited | 250 655 | Copy |
| Grindrod Bank Limited | 223 626 | Copy |
| Investec | 580 105 | Copy |
| Merchantile Bank Limited | 450 105 | Copy |
| Nedbank | 198 765 | Copy |
| Old Mutual | 462 005 | Copy |
| SA Post Bank (Post Office) | 460 005 | Copy |
| Sasfin Bank Limited | 683 000 | Copy |
| Standard Bank | 051 001 | Copy |
| Tyme Bank | 678 910 | Copy |
Instead of browsing different bank websites for the precise branch code to use for your next electronic fund transfer, you can now locate the branch code for several South African banks here.
What’s the Difference Between a Universal Branch Code and Specific Branch Code?
Branch Code – A bank’s branch code which is a 6-digit number, tells you where a certain branch is located and it is a unique number assigned to each branch of that specific bank.
Generic or Universal Branch Code – A universal branch code is a single code that represents all of the branches of a certain bank. This code can be used on any payment or transfer, regardless of which branch a bank account is held or opened in.
It should be noted that universal branch codes differ from one bank to the next.
If your recipient’s bank has a Universal branch code from the table, you can make a practice of using this single universal branch code instead of searching for the branch-specific code when making online payments.
Is It Faster to Use a Universal Branch Code?
No, it will take the same amount of time for a bank to process a transaction if using their universal bank branch code or a branch-specific code.
I Made a Payment and Used an Incorrect Branch Code, Will It Go Through?
Have you been in a situation where you made a payment or transfer but you are not sure if the branch code was entered correctly?
There is no need to panic! From our experience, the payment will still go through as long as the account number is entered correctly. The payment may take longer than usual, and if it does exceed a few working days, then you should notify your bank.
