SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany: banks starting with A

Finding a SWIFT code in Germany

For Germany we have 8518 SWIFT/BIC codes. Each code identifies an institution or a specific branch or department and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Each bank has its own page showing its main code and if there are any, codes for branches and departments. Below the list you can read how codes from Germany are built, how to send money there at a fair price and what to check before you pay.

The largest SWIFT network in Germany: Deutsche Bank AG

In our data, Deutsche Bank AG has the most SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Germany. Its head office code is DEUTDE2HXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

How many codes a bank has says something about how it organises its payments than about its size. If not the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code DEUTDE2HXXX works for a payment to Deutsche Bank AG.

Check the code before you pay

Have the recipient copy their bank details straight from their banking app. A wrong code may lead to a delay, a returned payment or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and check them regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. Treat our data as a reference rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers, not a bank.

Watch out for payment requests with changed bank details, especially when they come by email. Always confirm a change of bank details by phone on a number you know.

How SWIFT codes from Germany are built

Each SWIFT/BIC code consists of 8 or 11 characters. Characters one to four 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 – that is the quickest way to spot one. If the country letters do not match Germany, you are looking at a bank in another country, so check again.

The long version ends in three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. For most transfers the head office code is fine unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

SEPA transfers to Germany

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to Germany use the same rules and in most cases need only the IBAN. The BIC field is usually optional in that case.

A SWIFT code still matter for payments in other currencies and when the money comes from outside SEPA. Instant euro transfers are increasingly supported within SEPA, though not every bank offers them for every account. As long as the payment stays in euros, a SEPA transfer is usually inexpensive.

Banks in Germany beginning with the letter :letter

This page only shows banks in Germany whose name starts with :letter in alphabetical order. The totals on this page cover every bank we list, not just the ones under :letter.

If a bank is missing here, check another letter. The full overview for Germany is one click away when you cannot find the bank here.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Germany

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. That means: your full name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your address.

Your bank’s code is in our list but always compare it with your own bank details. Some banks also want the name and address of your bank, so keep it at hand.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs.

The cheapest way to send money to Germany

If you send money to Germany through a regular bank, the fee you see is rarely all of the cost. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup when currencies differ.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate. The difference is your real cost.

Money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other, showing the amount that reaches the recipient.

Sending EUR to Germany

The currency in Germany is the Euro (EUR). When you pay money in a different currency, it gets converted somewhere along the way.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on how much arrives. Check what EUR arrives via several providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. With bigger transfers, even a small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

When does money sent to Germany arrive?

How quickly money arrives in Germany depends on a few things: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday usually start a business day later.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each payment gets a unique reference, the UETR. Keep the payment confirmation – you will need it if something goes wrong.