SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany: banks starting with S
2,804 banks and financial institutions in Germany with 8,518 SWIFT/BIC codes in total.
How a SWIFT/BIC code from Germany is structured
A SWIFT/BIC code has 8 or 11 characters. Each part has a fixed meaning:
- PULS Bank code
- 4 letters that identify the bank.
- DE Country code
- 2 letters for the country (ISO 3166).
- DD Location code
- 2 characters for the city or region of the head office.
- XXX Branch code
- 3 characters for a specific branch. XXX means the head office.
Germany: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes
In Germany we have 8518 SWIFT/BIC codes from 2804 financial institutions. You need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly when making international transfers and for payments in a foreign currency.
Choose the bank below to see the head office code and any branch codes along with tips for payments to and from that bank. The rest of this page explain the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing before you send money.
Incoming international payments in Germany
A sender in another country will ask for a few details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. That means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and, often, your address.
Look up your bank in the list on this page to check its code. Certain banks may also ask for your bank’s address; it does no harm to include it.
The amount you receive can be less than what was sent. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank. For business payments, agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.
How SWIFT codes from Germany are built
Bank identifier codes follow one international format: 8 characters plus an optional three-character extension. The first four letters stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters form the country code and the next two give the location.
For banks in Germany, characters five and six are the ISO country code of Germany – that is the quickest way to spot one. If those two letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank in another country, so check again.
When a code ends in XXX, it means the head office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. For most transfers the head office code is what you need.
Check the code before you pay
The best place to find the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank. A wrong code can cause a delay, a returned payment or additional charges.
This list is compiled from publicly available sources that we update periodically. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes and our data may lag behind. Use our data as a starting point, not as the final word: the bank details from the recipient come first. We are an independent comparison service and not part of any bank listed here.
Be wary of payment requests containing changed bank details, especially when they come by email. Before paying, confirm a change of bank details through a separate channel, using a number you already had.
SWIFT codes in Germany: banks under :letter
You are looking at a filtered list: only institutions in Germany with a name starting with :letter. The counts in the introduction still cover the whole country and not only this selection.
Bank not listed? Its official name may begin with another word, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. The full overview for Germany is available if the letter filter does not help.
When does money sent to Germany arrive?
An international transfer to Germany typically takes one to a few business days. Bank holidays in either country add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.
If the money is late, ask the sender to contact their own bank. Save your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms.
What a transfer to Germany really costs
When you transfer money to Germany with your bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup.
Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. An easy check: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.
Specialised transfer providers often use a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares transfer services side by side, showing the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.
Germany and the SEPA area
Since Germany is part of SEPA, a euro transfer to an account in Germany usually only needs the IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC in that case.
You will still need a SWIFT code for non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. SEPA transfers normally land by the next business day. Provided no conversion is involved, a SEPA transfer tends to be cheap.
Germany and the Euro
The national currency of Germany is the Euro (EUR). When you pay money in a different currency, the amount gets converted somewhere along the way.
Who does the conversion affects how much arrives. In many cases it is cheaper to send EUR directly through a provider that converts near the mid-market rate. Exchange rates move during the day.
Which bank in Germany has the most codes?
Deutsche Bank AG leads the list for Germany when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is DEUTDE2HXXX – the code most transfers need.
How many codes a bank has tells you more about how it organises its payments than about how big it is. Making a payment to Deutsche Bank AG? Go with DEUTDE2HXXX unless a specific branch code is requested.
Frequently asked questions
How many banks in Germany have a SWIFT/BIC code?
Our directory lists 2,804 institutions in Germany that together have 8,518 SWIFT/BIC codes.
How do I find the right SWIFT code for a bank in Germany?
Ask the recipient or look up the bank in the list on this page. If no branch is specified, use the head office code ending in XXX.
Do I need a SWIFT code to send money to Germany?
For euro transfers usually not: Germany is part of SEPA, so the IBAN is enough. For other currencies you need the SWIFT/BIC code.
How long does a transfer to Germany take?
Euro transfers usually arrive within one business day, instant payments within seconds. Transfers in other currencies take 1–3 business days.
What is the cheapest way to send money to Germany?
Banks often hide a margin in the exchange rate. Check what arrives in Euro across transfer services to pay less.
Source: listbase-org SWIFT/BIC database (MIT licence), updated monthly. Always verify the code with the recipient or their bank.