Kfw SWIFT/BIC code

What DTABDED1 means for a payment to Kfw

DTABDED1 and DTABDED1XXX are two spellings of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both lead to Kfw in Frankfurt Am Main. A SWIFT code shows the sending bank which institution is meant to get the money, much like a postcode for banks. In daily life you mostly see it on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details of Kfw customers.

On this page you can read how the code is put together, when you need it and what else a transfer to or from Kfw requires. Remember that the BIC only identifies the bank, not the account: the account number or IBAN does that part.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Scammers regularly use payment requests containing changed bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. The fact that DTABDED1 exists is no guarantee that a request mentioning it is genuine.

Check changed bank details through a separate channel, not by replying to the message. Watch out for time pressure, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. Already paid? Contact your bank without delay and ask them to start a recall; also report it to the police.

Recipients can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to refund the difference to another account. Wait until the money is actually in your account.

Tracking a transfer to or from Kfw

How quickly a payment reaches Kfw depends on a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Bank holidays in the sending or receiving country can add extra days to the journey. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also cause a delay, regardless of the details.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR. Save the payment confirmation.

The bank that sent the money can request a trace; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. Request from the sender the payment receipt.

A note on our data

The details on this page are taken from publicly available data. It can happen that information on this page is no longer current, for example after a merger. The number of codes on this page are based on what is in our directory, not official figures from Kfw.

Use this page as a starting point, rather than as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay has no connection to Kfw; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Spotted outdated information? Tell us via our contact form and we will look into it.

SEPA payments and the Kfw BIC

Germany is a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). For a standard euro transfer from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

A SWIFT code like DTABDED1 still come into play for payments in other currencies and when the money comes from outside SEPA. A few forms also ask for the BIC out of habit; in that case, enter DTABDED1 or DTABDED1XXX.

SEPA transfers normally land by the next business day; instant payments are faster if both banks offer them. As long as no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer tends to be inexpensive; it is the conversion that costs money.

What the XXX in DTABDED1XXX means

The structure of every SWIFT code never changes: a bank code of four letters, two for the country and two for the location. The result is DTABDED1.

The 11-character version has three more characters that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office.

Leave out spaces, dots when you enter DTABDED1; the code is always written in one block. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 or the letter I and the digit 1; they are easy to mix up.

International transfers from Kfw: the real cost

The price of an international transfer is made up of several parts. Besides the transfer fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may take a cut, and if currencies are converted the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

Banks do not show their exchange rate markup as a cost, but you pay it all the same. Check the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many routes, a transfer service is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. Next time you send money, take a minute comparing the total cost via GoldexPay. You can always keep your account at Kfw, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Germany uses the Euro, code EUR. Money sent in a different currency will be converted into EUR before it reaches the account, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate line for the conversion.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives. Compare what EUR the recipient gets with different providers before choosing one.

Rates for EUR move all the time – some services let you fix a rate in advance. With bigger transfers, even small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

What to give a sender who pays you at Kfw

A sender in another country will ask for several details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code DTABDED1XXX and sometimes your address.

The sender’s bank may also ask for the address of your bank. Double-check every detail before you send them.

An incoming payment does not always arrive for the full amount. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank; check the price list of Kfw. For business payments, you can state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Head office or branch code at Kfw?

Our database contains 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Kfw in 2 places. Next to the head office code DTABDED1XXX, there are codes for branches, departments or specific services.

For most incoming transfers, the head office code DTABDED1XXX works fine. A branch code only makes sense if the recipient’s bank explicitly asks for it.

The best way is to take the code directly from the account holder’s invoice. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Before you send: check the Kfw code

Ask the recipient to send you their account details straight from their banking app. Compare it with DTABDED1 here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

If the code is wrong, the transfer might be delayed, be returned or cost extra, and tracing it can take weeks. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is a bigger problem.

Most online banking apps validate the format of IBANs and some suggest the matching BIC. If your bank offers it, a name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. When you pay someone new, many people start with a small amount first.