SWIFT/BIC codes in Austria

Bank SWIFT codes for Austria

For Austria our database holds 1191 SWIFT/BIC codes. You will need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly when making international transfers, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Look for the bank you need in the list and click through to see the full list of codes and the details a transfer needs. The sections below explain the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes before a payment.

Sending money to Austria for less

What you pay for a transfer to Austria is made up of several parts – not only the fee you see. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent banks may take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the largest cost item. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer, mainly because of the rate. Before your next transfer to Austria, take a minute comparing what arrives via GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.

The structure of a Austria SWIFT/BIC code

A BIC is either 8 or 11 characters long. The first four letters identify the bank, the fifth and sixth characters form the country code and the next two mark the location.

You can spot a code from Austria by the fifth and sixth characters: they always show the ISO country code of Austria. When the country letters do not match Austria, you are looking at a bank somewhere else.

The last three characters, if present, stand for a specific branch; XXX means the head office. Use a branch code just if the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.

Most SWIFT codes in Austria: Unicredit Bank Austria AG

Of the 822 banks in Austria, Unicredit Bank Austria AG has the largest number of SWIFT codes. The head office uses BKAUATWWXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

A large number of codes often means separate codes for branches, departments or services – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not a branch code is given, BKAUATWWXXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

Check the code before you pay

Have the recipient copy the account details directly from their online banking. If the code you have does not match our list, do not guess.

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from public sources and is updated regularly. Institutions reorganise, close branches and change codes. Use this list as a reference rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is not a bank.

Fraudsters often send fake invoices carrying new bank details that look completely genuine. A valid BIC tells you nothing about who owns the account: criminals use real codes too.

What a sender needs to pay you in Austria

A sender in another country will ask for several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

Look up the bank in the list above, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. It helps to add the name and city of your bank as well.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Sending EUR to Austria

Most accounts in Austria are typically held in EUR, the local currency. A payment in a foreign currency is exchanged into EUR on its way to the recipient.

Who converts the money matters, because each party uses its own rate. In many cases it is cheaper to send EUR directly through a provider with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. On larger amounts, a seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

When does money sent to Austria arrive?

An international transfer to Austria typically needs one to a few business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out the next business day.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every payment gets a unique reference, the UETR. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking online, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Euro payments to Austria: is a BIC needed?

Since Austria is in SEPA, a euro payment to a bank in Austria normally only needs an IBAN. Many banks no longer ask for the BIC for these payments.

The BIC does come into play for payments in other currencies and when the money comes from outside SEPA. Euro payments within SEPA normally land by the next business day or faster with instant payments. Provided no conversion is involved, the transfer tends to be cheap.