SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany: banks starting with G

Finding a SWIFT code in Germany

Our directory covers 2804 banks and other institutions in Germany and 8518 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. A SWIFT code shows the banks handling a transfer which institution should receive the money.

Search for the recipient’s bank below and click through for all codes we have and what else a transfer requires. The rest of this page explain how the codes work, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing.

About our data and how to check a code

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. When the code you were given does not match the code listed here, do not guess: check with the recipient or the bank.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and check our list from time to time. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. Before any payment of any size, confirm the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is a comparison site for money transfers, not a bank.

Be wary of payment requests containing a new account – a common fraud method. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine: criminals use real codes too.

Banks in Germany starting with :letter

The letter filter narrows the list to banks from Germany that begin with :letter, so you can find a bank faster. The counts in the introduction always refer to all banks in Germany and not only this selection.

Cannot find the bank? The registered name might begin with another word, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. Try the full list for Germany when you are not sure how the name is spelled.

Most SWIFT codes in Germany: Deutsche Bank AG

In our directory, Deutsche Bank AG holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany. Its head office code is DEUTDE2HXXX.

Many codes often means that the bank registers branches and departments separately. Making a payment to Deutsche Bank AG? Go with DEUTDE2HXXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

The structure of a Germany SWIFT/BIC code

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

Whatever the bank, every code from Germany have the same country code in positions five and six. Codes with a different country code belong to a bank abroad – a quick way to catch mistakes.

If the last three are XXX, it refers to the head office and the short version works just as well. In most cases the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

How long does a transfer to Germany take?

There is no fixed 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.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every payment gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking online.

SEPA transfers to Germany

Since Germany is in SEPA, a euro payment to a bank in Germany usually only needs an IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC in that case.

A SWIFT code still come into play when the currency is not euros and for transfers from outside SEPA. Instant euro transfers have become increasingly available within SEPA, though not every bank offers them for every account. Costs stay low as long as everything stays in euros; the conversion is where it gets expensive.

Germany and the Euro

The currency of Germany is the Euro (EUR). Money sent in a different currency will be exchanged into EUR on its way to the recipient.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount. Compare what EUR the recipient gets via different services before choosing one. On larger amounts, even a small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

The cheapest way to send money to Germany

An international bank payment to Germany often costs more than you think. There is a transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

The markup on the rate is often the largest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: set the offered rate against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. On GoldexPay you can compare the amount that arrives in Germany with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route.

Receiving money in Germany from abroad

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs several details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Your bank’s code appears in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. Certain sending banks also ask for your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.

The amount you receive is often less than what was sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. For business payments, state who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.