TL;DR Summary: The primary SWIFT code for Citibank N.A. in the United States is CITIUS33, also written as CITIUS33XXX. The code identifies the bank's head office at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013. Citibank maintains 41 branch-specific SWIFT codes across the United States for specialized transaction types. SWIFT codes are required for all incoming international wire transfers and must be provided alongside the recipient's account number, full name, and bank address. Routing numbers are used for domestic US transfers only and are not a substitute for a SWIFT code in an international context.
Introduction: What Is a SWIFT Code
A SWIFT code, also referred to as a Bank Identifier Code or BIC, is a standardized alphanumeric identifier used by financial institutions worldwide to communicate and route funds during international wire transfers. SWIFT stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, the Belgium-based cooperative that governs the messaging network connecting more than 11,000 financial institutions across over 200 countries. Every SWIFT code is a unique address that identifies a specific bank and, in some cases, a specific branch or service unit within that bank.
When a sender abroad instructs their bank to transfer funds to a US Citibank account, the sending bank uses the Citibank SWIFT code to route the transaction through the SWIFT network to the correct US institution. Without a valid SWIFT code, the sending bank cannot complete the routing and the transfer will fail or be returned. The code is to international wire transfers what a postal code is to physical mail delivery: a precise identifier that directs the payment to the correct destination institution.
Citibank's Primary US SWIFT Code
The primary SWIFT code for Citibank N.A. in the United States is CITIUS33, also written in the full 11-character format as CITIUS33XXX. This code identifies Citibank's head office and is the standard code for receiving international wire transfers into any Citibank N.A. account in the United States when a branch-specific code is not required. The associated registered address for this SWIFT code is 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, though some database sources also reference 111 Wall Street, New York, NY 10043, reflecting different registered addresses across Citibank's New York operations.
Both the 8-character version CITIUS33 and the 11-character version CITIUS33XXX are active and functionally equivalent for standard retail and commercial wire transfer routing. The XXX suffix at the end of an 11-character SWIFT code universally denotes the institution's primary or head office rather than a specific sub-branch. When a foreign sender's system requires an 11-character BIC, CITIUS33XXX should be provided.
Decoding CITIUS33
Every SWIFT code follows the same four-part structure defined by ISO 9362, and CITIUS33 is no exception. The first four characters, CITI, represent the bank identifier for Citibank N.A. and are a recognizable abbreviation of the institution's name. The next two characters, US, are the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code for the United States, indicating the country in which the institution is registered and primarily operates. The following two characters, 33, constitute the location code, which provides a geographic and operational reference for the bank's head office, referencing Citibank's New York City operational hub. The final three characters, XXX, denote the head office designation and confirm that this is the primary SWIFT code for the entire institution rather than a specific branch or division.
Branch-Specific SWIFT Codes
Citibank N.A. maintains 41 distinct SWIFT codes across its US operations, each assigned to a specific division, service unit, or operational function within the bank. Examples include CITIUS33GRP for the Head Office as a general processing unit, CITIUS33BNC for the BANCS system, CITIUS33EFX for Citibank New York EMFX Confirmations, and CITIUS33EMC for Event Master Central operations. These branch-specific codes are used in professional and institutional transaction contexts such as derivatives confirmations, foreign exchange processing, and correspondent banking settlement.
For the overwhelming majority of retail and personal banking international wire transfers, the standard head office code CITIUS33 or CITIUS33XXX is the correct code to use. Branch-specific codes are relevant primarily in institutional and treasury contexts. When in doubt, providing CITIUS33XXX and allowing Citibank to internally route the funds to the correct service unit is appropriate and standard practice for personal and commercial transfers.
Routing Numbers vs SWIFT Codes
Citibank, like all US banks, uses two distinct routing systems depending on whether a transfer is domestic or international. For domestic US transfers between bank accounts within the United States, the ABA routing number is used. Citibank's ABA routing number varies by state of account opening, reflecting the domestic clearing structure of the US banking system. The routing number is a nine-digit code specific to the domestic Automated Clearing House and wire transfer networks used within the United States.
For international transfers arriving from outside the United States, the SWIFT code is the relevant identifier and the ABA routing number has no role in the international routing process. Foreign senders who request a routing number from a US recipient typically need the SWIFT code for international wires rather than the ABA routing number. Providing an ABA routing number to a foreign sender attempting to complete an international SWIFT transfer will cause the transaction to fail. US recipients should always clarify which type of transfer is being sent before providing their banking details to avoid this common error.
How to Use CITIUS33 to Receive an International Transfer
To receive an international wire transfer into a Citibank US account, the account holder must provide the foreign sender with a specific set of details. These include Citibank's SWIFT code CITIUS33 or CITIUS33XXX, the full legal name of the account holder exactly as registered with Citibank, the Citibank account number, and the bank's address at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013. Some sending banks also require the recipient bank's full name and the account holder's residential address.
For incoming transfers that involve currency conversion, the exchange rate applied by the sending bank, not by Citibank, determines how much arrives in USD. Citibank processes incoming wires net of its own USD 15 incoming wire fee on standard accounts, with this fee waived for Citi Priority and premium account tiers.
Does Citibank Use IBAN Numbers
Citibank US accounts do not use International Bank Account Numbers. The IBAN system was developed in Europe and is mandatory for transfers within the SEPA zone and many other jurisdictions, but the United States does not participate in the IBAN framework. US bank accounts, including those at Citibank, are identified by a combination of the bank's ABA routing number and the account number for domestic purposes, or by the SWIFT code and account number for international purposes. Foreign senders from IBAN-using countries should provide the recipient's Citibank account number in its standard format when directing a SWIFT wire to the United States.
How to Find Your Citibank SWIFT Code
The Citibank SWIFT code can be found through several reliable channels. Citibank Online, the bank's internet banking portal, displays the applicable SWIFT code in the wire transfer instructions section, accessible after login under the account details or international transfer pages. The Citi Mobile app provides the same information under the account information section. Citibank branch staff can confirm the correct code in person or by phone, and the bank's customer service line can provide the SWIFT code for any account type. For most standard personal and business wire transfers, CITIUS33 or CITIUS33XXX is the universally accepted head office code applicable to all US Citibank accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Citibank's SWIFT code in the US?
The primary SWIFT code for Citibank N.A. in the United States is CITIUS33, also written as CITIUS33XXX in the full 11-character format. This code identifies the bank's head office in New York and is the standard code used for receiving international wire transfers into any Citibank US account. Citibank has 41 branch-specific SWIFT codes for specialized institutional purposes, but CITIUS33 is appropriate for all standard retail and commercial wire transfers.
How do I decode the Citibank SWIFT code CITIUS33?
CITIUS33 follows the standard SWIFT structure. CITI represents the bank identifier for Citibank N.A. US is the ISO country code for the United States. 33 is the location code referencing the bank's New York head office. The XXX suffix in the full 11-character version CITIUS33XXX indicates the primary office rather than a specific branch. All four components together uniquely identify Citibank N.A.'s head office on the global SWIFT network.
Do I need a SWIFT code or a routing number for an international transfer to Citibank?
For international wire transfers from a foreign bank to a Citibank US account, the SWIFT code CITIUS33 is required. Routing numbers are used exclusively for domestic US transfers and are not recognised by the international SWIFT network. Providing an ABA routing number to a foreign sender will result in the transfer failing. Always provide the SWIFT code for any international inbound payment to a Citibank account.
What information does a foreign sender need to wire money to my Citibank account?
The foreign sender needs Citibank's SWIFT code CITIUS33 or CITIUS33XXX, the full legal name on the Citibank account, the Citibank account number, and the bank's address at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013. Some sending banks may also require the account holder's residential address. No IBAN is required for US Citibank accounts as the United States does not participate in the IBAN system.
Does Citibank use the same SWIFT code for all US branches?
For standard retail and commercial wire transfers, CITIUS33 is used as the universal head office SWIFT code regardless of which US state the account is held in. Citibank does maintain 41 branch-specific SWIFT codes in the US for specialized institutional and treasury operations. Unless your transfer involves a specific Citibank division for professional or institutional purposes, CITIUS33 is the correct code to use for any standard incoming international wire.
