SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany

SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany

Here you will find codes for 2804 banks in Germany. Each code identifies an institution or one of its branches, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Every bank is listed with its own page with its main code and if there are any, codes for branches and departments. The sections below explain the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing before a payment.

About our data and how to check a code

The most reliable place for the right code is a document from the bank itself. A wrong code can cause a delay, a payment being sent back or additional charges.

We collect bank codes from publicly available data and update them regularly. Banks reorganise, close branches and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. For a payment that matters, confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank. We are an independent comparison site and not part of any bank listed here.

Watch out for payment requests containing changed bank details – a common fraud method. Always verify a change of bank details by phone.

Filter: banks in Germany with :letter

This list only shows the banks in Germany whose name starts with :letter in alphabetical order. The figures for Germany on this page apply to all 2804 banks.

Some banks are listed under their legal name, which may start with words like Bank or Banco, so the letter can differ from what you expect. The complete list remains one click away when you cannot find the bank here.

SEPA transfers to Germany

Germany belongs to the SEPA area, where euro transfers follow common rules. When you send euros from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN.

You will still need a SWIFT code for payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Instant payments in euros are increasingly supported across SEPA. Fees are generally low provided no currency is converted; the conversion is where it gets expensive.

When does money sent to Germany arrive?

There is no single answer for transfers to Germany: many land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Bank holidays in either country add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

If the money is delayed, ask the sender to contact their own bank for a trace – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Money transfer services usually provide tracking online, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

The cheapest way to send money to Germany

The price of a transfer to Germany is made up of several parts. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent banks can take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank often uses a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites.

Specialist money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Before you send money to Germany, take a minute comparing the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Germany pays in the Euro (EUR). If you send another currency, the amount has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Who converts the money matters: every bank has its own margin. Often it is cheaper if you send EUR directly through a provider that converts near the mid-market rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Exchange rates move during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.

The structure of a Germany SWIFT/BIC code

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. First comes four letters for the bank, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

You can spot a code from Germany by the fifth and sixth characters – those always form the country code of Germany. When those two letters do not match Germany, you are looking at a bank somewhere else – worth double-checking.

The last three characters, if present, identify a branch or department; XXX is used for the head office. In most cases the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

Receiving money in Germany from abroad

If you are waiting for a payment from another country in Germany, send the payer all details at once. Give them your name as registered with the bank, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address.

The code of your bank appears in the list on this page, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. You can include the name and city of your bank as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

What lands in your account can be less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments vary per bank. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

Most SWIFT codes in Germany: Deutsche Bank AG

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

Many codes usually reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. Paying someone at Deutsche Bank AG? Use DEUTDE2HXXX unless a specific branch code is requested.