Axa Bank AG SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Axa Bank AG

AXABDE31 and AXABDE31XXX are the short and the long form of the same bank identifier, and both lead to Axa Bank AG in Koeln. The code has a single purpose: it makes sure that an international payment ends up at the right bank. It comes up mostly when dealing with transfers between countries.

This page is meant to help anyone who pays into an account at Axa Bank AG without mistakes. Keep in mind that the BIC only identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number takes care of that.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using public sources and update our list regularly. Banks merge, change names and change codes. Counts and locations come from our own dataset and are not confirmed by Axa Bank AG.

Use this page as a starting point, rather than as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. We are a comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Axa Bank AG. Should you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a short note via the contact page.

Head office or branch code at Axa Bank AG?

Axa Bank AG has 2 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 locations. Only one is the head office code; the rest belong to branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

For the vast majority of incoming transfers, the head office code AXABDE31XXX is the right choice. When you receive a specific code, stick to it rather than swapping it with the head office code.

The best way is to copy the code directly from the recipient’s invoice. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Paying Axa Bank AG in euros within SEPA

Germany belongs to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). When you send euros from another SEPA country, the IBAN is usually enough and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

A SWIFT code like AXABDE31 still matter when the currency is not euros and when the money comes from outside SEPA. If your banking app asks for the BIC anyway, adding AXABDE31 is fine.

SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Charges on SEPA transfers tend to be low.

International transfers from Axa Bank AG: the real cost

What you pay for a payment abroad has several parts – not just the fee on your screen. Besides the transfer fee, banks in between may take a cut, and when the money changes currency, the bank usually applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost. A simple test: set the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

Specialist money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. On GoldexPay you can compare the amount that arrives across services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot. You can always keep your account at Axa Bank AG, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Axa Bank AG

How quickly a payment arrives at Axa Bank AG is determined by several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often go out the next business day. Sometimes a bank asks about the purpose of a payment.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact your bank about the status so they can trace it along the chain. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking online so you can see how far the payment has got.

Only the sending bank is able to request a trace or a recall – the recipient’s bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. On the receiving end, you can check your account for a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

The Euro and what conversion costs you

Most accounts at Axa Bank AG are typically held in EUR, the national currency. A payment in a foreign currency will be exchanged into EUR before it reaches the account, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate line for that conversion.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Check what EUR the recipient gets with several services before choosing one.

Exchange rates move all the time, and some providers let you lock in a rate. On larger amounts, a seemingly small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Receiving money from abroad at Axa Bank AG

To receive a transfer from abroad into your account at Axa Bank AG, the sender has to have not just the SWIFT code. The basics are: your name, account number or IBAN, AXABDE31XXX and often your postal address.

The sender’s bank might request the bank address of Axa Bank AG; the head office in Koeln is usually fine. Double-check every detail before you send them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank; check the price list of Axa Bank AG. For business payments, you can agree how the fees are split, so that nobody is left short.

How to check AXABDE31 before you pay

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient. When the code you were given differs from AXABDE31 or AXABDE31XXX, stop and ask: check with the recipient or with Axa Bank AG directly.

Errors in the BIC are annoying more than disastrous: often the payment comes back, minus fees. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is more serious because it can reach the wrong person, so check that just as carefully.

Many banking apps validate the structure of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically, but that does not prove the account belongs to the right person. More and more banks check the name with the account before you confirm. When you pay someone new, many people start with a small amount first before sending the rest.

What the XXX in AXABDE31XXX means

A SWIFT code is made up of a few fixed parts: characters one to four identify the bank, the next two show the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. That gives you AXABDE31.

XXX at the end of AXABDE31XXX is not a missing value or an error: it indicates the head office of Axa Bank AG. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, in which case you can enter XXX behind AXABDE31.

As a rule the code is written in capitals and without spaces. Look out for the letter O and the digit 0 and I versus 1, a common source of typos.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Stay alert if someone suddenly asks you to send money to another account abroad. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Before paying, confirm a change of bank details through a phone call. Urgency or secrecy tend to be warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. Acted too fast? Contact the bank you paid from straight away and ask them to start a recall and report the fraud.

Fraud also work the other way: someone sends too much and asks you to return the difference to a new account. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing – check your own account.