Service Credit Union SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Service Credit Union

SCRUDE51 and SCRUDE51XXX are two ways of writing the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Service Credit Union in Kaiserslautern. A SWIFT code shows the banks handling a payment which institution is meant to get the money. In practice you mostly see the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and in the bank details of Service Credit Union customers.

On this page we explain how the code is put together, when it matters and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Service Credit Union. Remember that the BIC only identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number does that part.

How to check SCRUDE51 before you pay

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient. Compare that code with SCRUDE51 on this page.

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

Most online banking apps check the format of an IBAN. Where available, a payee name check on the recipient gives extra certainty. Sending a small amount first is worth it for large sums.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Fraudsters often use fake invoices with new bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. The fact that SCRUDE51 exists does not mean that the account is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Verify changed payment details through a different channel, such as a phone number you already know, not by replying to the message. Be suspicious of time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. When money has already gone to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to send back the difference. Do not act before the money has really arrived.

Sending EUR to Service Credit Union

The currency of Germany is the Euro (EUR). A payment in a foreign currency is exchanged into EUR on its way to Service Credit Union. Every conversion eats into the amount, even when no fee is shown.

Who does the conversion has an effect on how much arrives. Sending the money already in EUR often prevents a second conversion by Service Credit Union, provided the rate you get is fair.

The EUR rate changes throughout the day. With bigger transfers, a small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

Paying Service Credit Union in euros within SEPA

Inside SEPA, euro payments to an account in Germany follow the same rules. A field for the BIC is usually optional or missing for those payments.

Outside the euro and from non-SEPA countries, SCRUDE51XXX or SCRUDE51 is still required. A few forms still show a field for the BIC out of habit; if so, fill in SCRUDE51.

Instant payments in euros have become widely available across SEPA. As long as the payment stays in euros, the transfer tends to be inexpensive; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

Head office or branch code at Service Credit Union?

Having 2 codes in 2 cities, Service Credit Union is one of the banks that register individual codes for branches and departments. The main code is SCRUDE51XXX.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code SCRUDE51XXX works fine. Branch codes are only needed when the account holder specifically asks for it, which is more common for corporate accounts and specialised services.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than SCRUDE51XXX.

A note on our data

We gather bank codes using publicly available data and check them regularly. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes and our data may lag behind. The number of codes we show reflect our own data.

Treat this page as a starting point, rather than as the final word. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers and not part of Service Credit Union. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message.

Incoming international payments to Service Credit Union

To receive an international payment at Service Credit Union, the sender needs not just the SWIFT code. What they need is: the account holder’s name, IBAN or account number, SCRUDE51XXX and in many cases your home address.

You can include Service Credit Union and its city as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A typo in your account number is more trouble than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Expect that the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments vary per bank. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

Paying someone abroad from your Service Credit Union account

The price of a payment abroad has more than one component, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from correspondent banks in between and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: the bank converts using an exchange rate with a margin built in. Check their rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service is cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. Before your next transfer, take a minute comparing what arrives via GoldexPay rather than accepting the bank’s rate by default. Using a transfer service does not require closing your account at Service Credit Union: you simply pay the service from your account.

What the XXX in SCRUDE51XXX means

The layout of every SWIFT code never changes: four characters for the institution, two for the country and a two-character location code. In this case, that core is SCRUDE51.

Most payment forms accept either length. If a form requires eleven characters, enter SCRUDE51XXX; if it wants eight, use SCRUDE51.

Type the code in one piece, in capitals and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Look out for the letter O and the digit 0 or the letter I and the digit 1, a common source of typos.

When will the money arrive at Service Credit Union?

How quickly a transfer reaches Service Credit Union is determined by several factors: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and time zones. Bank holidays in the sending or receiving country add a day or more, since banks do not process on those days. Compliance checks by one of the banks may also cause a delay.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR. Save the payment confirmation; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

The bank that sent the money can request a trace or a recall – the recipient’s bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation.