Pommersche Voba EG SWIFT/BIC code

What GENODEF1 means for a payment to Pommersche Voba EG

GENODEF1 and GENODEF1HSY are the short and the long form of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Pommersche Voba EG in Bergen Auf Ruegen. A SWIFT code tells the sending bank which institution should receive the money, much like a postcode for banks. In daily life you usually come across it on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details that Pommersche Voba EG provides.

On this page you can read how the code means, when it matters and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Pommersche Voba EG. The SWIFT code on its own cannot identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN .

Sending money abroad from Pommersche Voba EG

A bank transfer abroad can cost rather more than the fee suggests. Besides the transfer fee, banks in between can deduct a fee, and if currencies are converted the bank often applies a rate below the real market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee: many banks convert using an exchange rate that includes a margin. 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.

For many routes, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. Next time you send money, take a minute comparing the total cost via GoldexPay. You can still keep your account at Pommersche Voba EG; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

The Euro and what conversion costs you

The national currency of Germany is the Euro (EUR). If you send another currency, the amount has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or Pommersche Voba EG itself. There is rarely a separate line for the conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on the final amount, as rates and margins differ per bank. Transferring the amount directly in EUR usually prevents a second conversion by Pommersche Voba EG, provided the rate you get is fair.

Rates for EUR move during the day. On larger amounts, even small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

How long does an international transfer to Pommersche Voba EG take?

There is no single delivery time: many arrive within a day while others need several business days. Payments made after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often start a business day later. Occasionally a bank asks about the purpose of a payment, which can hold things up.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each payment gets a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Keep the payment confirmation until the money has arrived – you will need it for any trace request.

A missing payment is investigated by the sending bank on the basis of the transfer details. As a recipient, you can look at your statements for a partial amount because fees can reduce the amount.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Pommersche Voba EG

Our database contains 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Pommersche Voba EG. Besides the head office code GENODEF1HSY, you will find codes for individual branches and departments.

For most incoming transfers, the head office code GENODEF1HSY works fine. Only use a branch code when the recipient gives you that exact code, for example on a letter or invoice.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than GENODEF1HSY.

About this information

The codes here are taken from public sources that we update regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes, so information can be out of date. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset and are not confirmed by Pommersche Voba EG.

For any payment of any size, confirm the code with Pommersche Voba EG or the recipient. We are an independent comparison service and not affiliated with Pommersche Voba EG. Should you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a short note.

Watch out for payment fraud

A common scam goes like this: you receive a request claiming that a contact now has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. That GENODEF1 is a real code does not mean that the account is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Never trust a phone number in the same message that announces the change. Urgency or requests to keep it quiet are warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If a payment has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud also target the receiver: someone claims to have sent too much and wants you to return the extra via a different route. Wait until the money is actually in your account – ask Pommersche Voba EG if something looks wrong.

8 or 11 characters: GENODEF1 versus GENODEF1HSY

Each SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and a two-character location code. For Pommersche Voba EG, that core is GENODEF1.

The long version has a three-character extension that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, they simply mean the head office, so GENODEF1HSY and GENODEF1 are interchangeable.

In practice the code is written in capitals and without spaces. A single letter may route the money to another bank, so check it twice.

Paying Pommersche Voba EG in euros within SEPA

Germany is a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). For a regular euro transfer within SEPA, the IBAN is usually enough.

You will still need GENODEF1HSY when sending payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. If a payment form has a field for the BIC regardless, adding GENODEF1 is fine.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land by the next business day; instant payments are faster if both banks offer them. Charges on SEPA transfers are generally low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

How to check GENODEF1 before you pay

Have the recipient copy their account details directly from their online banking. Compare it with GENODEF1 on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

If the code is wrong, the payment might get stuck, be returned or cost extra, and tracing it can take weeks. An error in the account number is more serious because it can reach the wrong person, so check that just as carefully.

A format check in your banking app only confirms that the IBAN is valid. If your bank offers it, a name check on the recipient gives extra certainty. A small test payment can be a sensible step for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

Getting paid from abroad into a Pommersche Voba EG account

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for a few details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC GENODEF1HSY and your address, which some banks require.

It helps to include the bank name and Bergen Auf Ruegen too, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A mistake in the IBAN can be more trouble than it looks.

Money from abroad does not always land for the full amount. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank – the price list of Pommersche Voba EG tells you what applies. On invoices, it is common to agree how the fees are split, so that nobody is left short.