SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany

Bank SWIFT codes for Germany

In Germany we have 8518 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 2804 institutions. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain which institution should receive the money.

Search for the recipient’s bank in the list and click through for the full list of codes and what else a transfer requires. Further down we explain how codes from Germany are built, how to send money there at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

When does money sent to Germany arrive?

How quickly a payment arrives in Germany is determined by a few things: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Public holidays in Germany or in the sending country can add extra days.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact the sending bank and ask for the status or the UETR; only the sending side can start an official trace. Specialist transfer services often show tracking in their app.

SEPA transfers to Germany

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to Germany use the same rules, so the IBAN does the job in most cases. The BIC field is usually optional for those payments.

You still need the BIC for non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. Instant payments in euros have become widely supported within SEPA, though not every bank offers them for every account. Provided no conversion is involved, a SEPA transfer tends to be cheap.

Most SWIFT codes in Germany: Deutsche Bank AG

Of all banks we list for Germany, Deutsche Bank AG is listed with the largest number of codes. Its main office has DEUTDE2HXXX.

Banks differ in how many codes they register, so the count is not a ranking of size. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code DEUTDE2HXXX works for transfers to this bank.

Sending money to Germany for less

When you transfer money to Germany via your bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

Specialist money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients in Germany receive with different services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

Germany and the Euro

Germany uses the Euro. If you send another currency, it has to be converted at some point.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference: every bank has its own margin. In many cases it is cheaper to send EUR straight away via a provider that converts near the mid-market rate. Rates for EUR move during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

What a sender needs to pay you in Germany

A sender in another country will ask for a few details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. Give them your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Look up the bank in the list above to check its code, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Some sending banks also ask for the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

The amount you receive is often lower than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Germany

Ask the recipient to copy their bank details directly from their banking app. When the code you were given differs from the code listed here, do not guess: check with the recipient or the bank.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources that we update periodically. Banks merge, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Treat our data as a starting point rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is a comparison site.

Fraudsters regularly send fake invoices carrying changed bank details that look completely genuine. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Germany

SWIFT/BIC codes use the same format worldwide: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. The first four letters stand for the bank, characters five and six are the country code and the next two mark the location.

In every code from Germany, characters five and six show the ISO country code of Germany, which makes these codes easy to recognise. If those two letters do not match Germany, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else – worth double-checking.

The long version ends in three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.