SWIFT/BIC codes in Austria: banks starting with Z

SWIFT/BIC codes in Austria

For Austria we have 1191 SWIFT/BIC codes. A BIC shows the banks handling a transfer which institution should receive the money.

Every bank is listed with its own page showing its main code and, where available, codes for branches and departments. The sections below explain how the codes work, the cost of transfers and how to avoid mistakes.

How long does a transfer to Austria take?

How fast a payment reaches Austria is determined by several factors: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Payments made late in the day or on weekends and holidays often go out the next business day.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact the sending bank for a trace; only the sending side can start an official trace. Specialist transfer services often provide a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

The cheapest way to send money to Austria

A bank transfer to Austria can cost more than the fee suggests. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares these providers next to each other, showing the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.

The largest SWIFT network in Austria: Unicredit Bank Austria AG

Unicredit Bank Austria AG tops the list for Austria in SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Unicredit Bank Austria AG uses BKAUATWWXXX.

Practice differs in whether they register branch codes. If not a branch code is given, BKAUATWWXXX is fine for a payment to Unicredit Bank Austria AG.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Austria

SWIFT/BIC codes use the same format worldwide: eight characters, sometimes followed by three more. Characters one to four stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters form the country code and the next two mark the location.

You can recognise a bank code from Austria from the fifth and sixth characters. A code with a different country code come from another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the main office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Euro payments to Austria: is a BIC needed?

Austria is part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), the zone for uniform euro payments. For a regular euro transfer within SEPA, the IBAN is usually enough.

You still need the BIC when sending non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Instant payments in euros have become increasingly supported within SEPA. As long as no conversion is involved, the transfer tends to be inexpensive.

What a sender needs to pay you in Austria

When you are waiting for money from abroad on an account in Austria, give the sender a complete set of details. Share the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

Find your bank in the list on this page to check its code, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Certain sending banks may also want the name and address of your bank, so keep it at hand.

The amount you receive can be less than the amount sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. For business payments, agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Banks in Austria beginning with the letter :letter

You are looking at a selection: just institutions in Austria whose name begins with :letter. The counts in the introduction still cover all banks in Austria, not just this letter.

Many institutions are listed under their legal name. Try the full list for Austria if you do not know the exact name.

Check the code before you pay

Ask the recipient to send you their bank details straight from a recent statement. If the code you have differs from our list, stop and ask: check with the recipient or the bank.

We collect bank codes using public sources and update them from time to time. Banks merge, close branches and change codes. Before any payment of any size, confirm the code with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service.

Watch out for invoices with a new account, especially when they come by email. A real SWIFT code says nothing about whether a request is genuine.

The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Austria uses the Euro. If you send another currency, the amount has to be converted at some point – by your bank, a bank in between or the recipient’s bank.

Who converts the money matters, because each party uses its own rate. Check what EUR arrives with several providers before choosing one. Rates for EUR change all the time, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.