Hkb Bank GMBH SWIFT/BIC code

HKBBDEF1 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Hkb Bank GMBH

The short code HKBBDEF1 and the 11-character code HKBBDEF1XXX identify the same bank: Hkb Bank GMBH. Banks worldwide use BIC codes to route payments between countries to the correct institution. You will need it mainly when dealing with payments that cross a border and payments in foreign currencies.

On this page we explain how the code means, when you need it and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Hkb Bank GMBH. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

Verifying the SWIFT code of Hkb Bank GMBH

The best place to find the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank. Check it against HKBBDEF1 here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

A wrong SWIFT code can cause a delay, a returned payment or additional charges along the way. A mistake in the account number can be a bigger problem, so check that just as carefully.

A format check by your bank merely tells you that the code exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. Some banks now check the name with the account. Sending a small amount first can be worth it for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

HKBBDEF1 or HKBBDEF1XXX – which one to use?

The layout of a BIC is always the same: a bank code of four letters, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code, plus an optional branch code. The result is HKBBDEF1 for Hkb Bank GMBH.

The full version has three more characters for a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, they simply mean the head office, so HKBBDEF1XXX and HKBBDEF1 are interchangeable.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without spaces, exactly as shown here. A wrong letter can send the money to another bank.

Receiving money from abroad at Hkb Bank GMBH

A sender in another country needs a few details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. That means: your full name as registered with Hkb Bank GMBH, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code HKBBDEF1XXX (or HKBBDEF1) and sometimes your postal address.

The sender’s bank might also ask for the address of your bank. A typo in your account number can be more trouble than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

What lands in your account can be lower than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank – the price list of Hkb Bank GMBH tells you what applies. For business payments, you can state how the fees are split, so that nobody is left short.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Stay wary when someone suddenly asks you to send money to a different account or a bank in another country. The fact that HKBBDEF1 exists is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is genuine.

Never rely on contact details in the same message that announces the change. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet are red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. If a payment has already gone to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

People receiving money are targeted too: one known trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to refund the difference to another account. Wait until the money has really arrived – ask Hkb Bank GMBH if something looks wrong.

Euro transfers to Hkb Bank GMBH: is a BIC needed?

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to an account in Germany follow the same rules, so the IBAN does the job in most cases. The BIC field is usually optional or missing for those payments.

The BIC does come into play when the currency is not euros, and for transfers from outside SEPA. A few banks and apps still ask for the BIC out of habit; if so, enter HKBBDEF1 or HKBBDEF1XXX.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land within one business day. Fees for SEPA payments are generally low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

Paying someone abroad from your Hkb Bank GMBH account

When you transfer money to another country via Hkb Bank GMBH, the fee you see is rarely all of what you pay. On top of the transfer fee, banks in between can take a cut, and when currencies are converted the bank often uses a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

Banks do not list the margin on the rate separately – you only notice it if you compare. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

Specialised transfer providers often offer a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. On GoldexPay you can compare the amount that arrives with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route. Using a transfer service does not require leaving Hkb Bank GMBH.

Paying into Hkb Bank GMBH in EUR

Accounts at Hkb Bank GMBH are typically held in EUR, the national currency of Germany. When you pay another currency, the amount gets converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or Hkb Bank GMBH itself. Every conversion eats into the amount.

Which bank converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Transferring the amount directly in EUR usually avoids an extra conversion by Hkb Bank GMBH.

The rate for EUR fluctuates throughout the day. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate add up over a year.

Tracking a transfer to or from Hkb Bank GMBH

An international transfer typically needs one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments may also cause some delay.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask your bank about the tracking status so they can trace it along the chain. Keep the payment confirmation.

Only the sending bank is able to start an official trace. As a recipient, you can check your statements to see a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

Head office or branch code at Hkb Bank GMBH?

Our database contains 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for Hkb Bank GMBH in 1 cities. Besides the head office code HKBBDEF1XXX, you will find codes for regional offices and specialised units.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, use HKBBDEF1XXX or its short form HKBBDEF1. If you have been given a branch code, use it as it is instead of replacing it with the head office code.

Unsure which code to use? Ask the recipient. Branch codes are more prone to change than HKBBDEF1XXX.

About this information

The details here come from publicly available data that we update regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. Figures such as the number of codes come from our directory.

See our directory on this page as a handy check. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Hkb Bank GMBH. Spotted an error? Tell us via our contact form.