CARECIPIENT BANK DETAILS

What details do you need to send money to Canada?

Use this as a format checklist, then follow the exact fields shown by your chosen provider. Local CAD payout and a direct international wire can use different instructions.

Account identifierAccount number plus transit and institution numbers

Local bank identifier3-digit institution followed by 5-digit transit

SWIFT/BICCommon on direct wires

CHECK BEFORE COPYING

Catch a mistyped code in your browser

This checks the published structure and any available checksum. It does not query the recipient account or save what you enter.

SWIFT/BIC

Enter a BICUse the 8 or 11-character code supplied by the bank.

Canadian institution and transit numbers

Enter the institution + transit3-digit institution followed by 5-digit transit

Checked only in this browser. Nothing entered here is sent, logged or stored.

FIELD BY FIELD

Canada recipient checklist

“Conditional” means the field depends on the provider, currency or payment rail.

DetailWhenFormatWhat to check

Recipient namerequiredExact account name

Use the full personal or business account name.

Transit numberrequired5 digits

This identifies the branch.

Institution numberrequired3 digits

This identifies the financial institution.

Account numberrequiredLength varies

Copy all digits, including any leading zeroes.

SWIFT/BICconditional8 or 11 characters

Use the code provided for an incoming international wire when requested.

LOCAL PAYOUT OR DIRECT WIRE?

The same destination can ask for different details

Canada does not use IBAN. Ask for the 5-digit transit number, 3-digit institution number and account number. A direct international wire may also request a SWIFT/BIC and bank address.

1Get the details from the recipient

Prefer their banking screen, official statement or bank-issued incoming-payment instructions.

2Check the institution separately

Use the official source links below. A passing format is not an institution match.

3Reconfirm any change

Call through a trusted number, not contact details contained in the payment-change message.

OFFICIAL CHECKS

Sources for Canada

Use these for the institution, branch or national format. A directory result still does not identify the recipient account.

REVIEWED BY

The names attached to this work

The checking desk produces the rate records. Finofin Limited is responsible for the published explanations and for correcting them when the evidence changes.

Alon RajicPublisher and research leadBackground and responsibilities →

Russell GousHead of contentBackground and responsibilities →