Sparkasse Hannover SWIFT/BIC code

KRHADE21 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Sparkasse Hannover

The 8-character code KRHADE21 and the 11-character code KRHADE21XXX identify one and the same institution: Sparkasse Hannover, with its head office in Hannover. The code does one job: it makes sure that an international payment reaches the right bank. You will need it mainly when dealing with payments that cross a border or a currency.

This page is meant to help people who sends money to an account at Sparkasse Hannover and wants to get the details right. Keep in mind that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the person: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

Paying Sparkasse Hannover in euros within SEPA

Since Germany is in the SEPA zone, a euro transfer into Sparkasse Hannover from another SEPA country normally requires just an IBAN. Many banks no longer ask for the BIC for these payments or fill it in for you.

For anything other than euros and from non-SEPA countries, KRHADE21XXX is still required. A few forms also show a field for the BIC out of habit; if so, fill in KRHADE21 or KRHADE21XXX.

Instant payments in euros have become increasingly supported across SEPA; check with Sparkasse Hannover whether it applies to your account. Fees for SEPA transfers are generally low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

What a transfer from Sparkasse Hannover abroad really costs

When you transfer money abroad via Sparkasse Hannover, the visible fee is rarely all of what you pay. You pay the transfer fee, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, not in the fee: the bank converts using an exchange rate that includes a margin. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate for the same moment and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialist money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Next time you send money, it is worth to compare the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Sparkasse Hannover.

How to check KRHADE21 before you pay

The best place to find the correct BIC is paperwork issued by the bank. Check it against KRHADE21 on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

A wrong SWIFT code can cause a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees for investigation. An error in the IBAN or account number is more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else, so check that just as carefully.

Most online banking apps validate the format of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a name check on the recipient gives an extra layer of safety. A small test payment is worth it for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

How up to date is this code?

The details on this page are taken from publicly available data that we update regularly. It can happen that a code here is out of date, for example after a merger. Figures such as the number of codes are from our directory and may differ from what Sparkasse Hannover publishes.

Treat our directory here as a handy check. GoldexPay is a comparison service for money transfers and not part of Sparkasse Hannover. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message via the contact page.

Incoming international payments to Sparkasse Hannover

When you expect a payment from another country, send the payer everything they need in one go. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code KRHADE21XXX (or KRHADE21) and usually your postal address.

Some sending banks also ask for the name and address of Sparkasse Hannover, so keep it at hand. A typo in your account number can be more trouble than you might think.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee, Sparkasse Hannover may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Sparkasse Hannover

There is no single answer for every transfer: many land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know what the payment is for, which can hold things up.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Specialist transfer services often show a status online showing how far the payment is.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the person who paid needs to start with their own bank. On the receiving end, it helps to look at your account to see a partial amount.

Sending EUR to Sparkasse Hannover

Accounts at Sparkasse Hannover are typically held in EUR, the local currency of Germany. A payment in a foreign currency is 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, since every bank sets its own rate. Sending the amount directly in EUR often avoids a second conversion at the receiving end.

The rate for EUR fluctuates constantly. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate make a real difference over a year.

Changed bank details? Be careful

One of the most common tricks works like this: you receive a message claiming that a company now has new bank details and asking you to pay there from now on. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Always confirm changed bank details through a phone call. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet are warning signs. When a payment has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Recipients can be targeted as well: one known trick is an overpayment followed by a request to refund the difference. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing – check your own account.

Which of the 3 codes of Sparkasse Hannover do you need?

Having 3 codes, Sparkasse Hannover is one of the banks that register individual codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The head office code remains KRHADE21XXX.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code KRHADE21XXX is the right choice. Branch codes are only needed when the recipient’s bank specifically mentions it, which is more common for corporate accounts and specialised services.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time.

Why Sparkasse Hannover has an 8- and an 11-character code

A SWIFT code is made up of a few fixed parts: the first four letters identify the bank, characters five and six give the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. For Sparkasse Hannover, the 8-character core is KRHADE21.

XXX at the end of KRHADE21XXX is not a missing value or a mistake: it indicates the main office of Sparkasse Hannover. Certain payment forms insist on 11 characters, and then you can enter XXX behind KRHADE21.

As a rule the code is written in capitals. Copying the code is safer than typing it by hand: a typo can point to another bank.