Frankfurter Sparkasse SWIFT/BIC code

Frankfurter Sparkasse SWIFT code: FRSKDEF1

Whether a recipient gives you FRSKDEF1 or FRSKDEF1XXX, you are looking at the same address for Frankfurter Sparkasse in Germany. Banks worldwide use these codes to route international transfers to the correct bank. You will need it mainly when dealing with payments that cross a border.

On this page we explain what the code is put together, when you need it and what else a transfer to or from Frankfurter Sparkasse requires. Remember that the BIC only identifies the bank, not the person: the IBAN or account number takes care of that.

Is FRSKDEF1 still correct? How to check

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient. If the code you have does not match FRSKDEF1 or FRSKDEF1XXX, stop and ask: check with the recipient or with Frankfurter Sparkasse directly.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or cost extra. A mistake in the IBAN or account number can be a bigger problem, so check that just as carefully.

An automatic check in your banking app merely confirms that the code exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. Where available, a name check on the recipient gives an extra layer of safety. For a first payment, many people send a small amount first and wait for confirmation.

What a transfer from Frankfurter Sparkasse abroad really costs

When you send money abroad via Frankfurter Sparkasse, the visible fee is only part of the cost. You pay the fee for the transfer itself, possibly charges from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest item because it is hidden in the rate. A simple test: set the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Money transfer services frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before your next transfer, it is worth to compare the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. You can still use your account at Frankfurter Sparkasse.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The codes on this page are taken from public sources which we refresh regularly. It can happen that a code here is no longer current, for example after a merger. The figures we show reflect our own data.

For any payment of any size, always confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers and not affiliated with Frankfurter Sparkasse. Found an error? Let us know through the contact page and we will look into it.

Changed bank details? Be careful

One of the most common tricks goes like this: an email arrives with a request claiming that a company has new bank details and that the next payment should go there. That FRSKDEF1 is a real code does not mean that the account is legitimate; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Always verify changed bank details by phone. Be suspicious of urgent requests, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. If money was sent to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately.

Fraud can also work the other way: someone claims to have sent too much and asks you to refund the extra via a different route. Do not act before the money has really arrived.

Which of the 2 codes of Frankfurter Sparkasse do you need?

Frankfurter Sparkasse has 2 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 locations. Only one is the head office code; the rest identify branches, and sometimes specific services.

In most cases there is no need to look up a branch: transfers addressed to FRSKDEF1XXX are routed within Frankfurter Sparkasse correctly. Only use a branch code when your contact explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

The safest approach is to take the code directly from the recipient’s statement. Codes for branches are more likely to change than FRSKDEF1XXX.

Why Frankfurter Sparkasse has an 8- and an 11-character code

A BIC is made up of fixed blocks: characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six give the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. Combined, those parts form FRSKDEF1.

Most payment forms accept both lengths. If yours asks for eleven characters, use FRSKDEF1XXX, otherwise FRSKDEF1 is fine.

Do not add spaces when you enter FRSKDEF1; the code is always written in one block. Copying the code beats typing it by hand.

Paying into Frankfurter Sparkasse in EUR

Germany pays in the Euro, with the currency code EUR. If you send money in a different currency it gets converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or Frankfurter Sparkasse itself. You rarely see a separate charge for the conversion.

Who converts the payment makes a difference, because each party uses its own rate. Compare how much EUR arrives via several services before choosing one.

The EUR rate fluctuates constantly and quotes are often valid only for a short time. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate make a real difference over time.

Paying Frankfurter Sparkasse in euros within SEPA

Within the SEPA zone, euro payments to Frankfurter Sparkasse follow common rules, so the IBAN does the job in most cases. A field for the BIC is usually optional or missing in that case.

A SWIFT code like FRSKDEF1 still matter when the currency is not euros. A few forms also ask for the BIC out of habit; if so, enter FRSKDEF1.

Instant payments in euros have become increasingly available across SEPA; check with Frankfurter Sparkasse whether it applies to your account. Charges on SEPA transfers are generally low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

Receiving money from abroad at Frankfurter Sparkasse

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. The basics are: your name, IBAN or account number, FRSKDEF1XXX or FRSKDEF1 and often your postal address.

Some sending banks also ask for the name and address of Frankfurter Sparkasse; it does no harm to include it. A typo in the IBAN is more trouble than it looks, so copy the details from your online banking.

Expect that the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank; check the price list of Frankfurter Sparkasse. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Frankfurter Sparkasse

There is no single answer: many arrive within a day, others take several business days. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country add extra days to the journey. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also add a delay.

If the money is delayed, contact the sending bank for the tracking status. Money transfer services often show tracking in their app so you can see how far the money has got.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the sender should contact the bank that sent it. On the receiving end, you can check your account for a partial amount.