Sparkasse Hildesheim SWIFT/BIC code

What NOLADE21 means for a payment to Sparkasse Hildesheim

The short code NOLADE21 and the 11-character code NOLADE21HIK refer to the same bank: Sparkasse Hildesheim in Hildesheim, Germany. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank should receive the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. In daily life you mostly come across it on international invoices, in payment forms and on the account details that Sparkasse Hildesheim provides.

On this page we explain what the code means, when you need it and what else you need for a transfer to or from Sparkasse Hildesheim. Keep in mind that the SWIFT code just identifies the bank, not the account: the IBAN or account number does that part.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Sparkasse Hildesheim

Sparkasse Hildesheim uses 2 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 locations. Only one is the head office code, NOLADE21HIK; the rest belong to branches, and sometimes internal departments.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, use NOLADE21HIK. Branch codes are only needed if the account holder explicitly mentions it.

If you are not sure, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Codes are sometimes changed or retired over time.

How long does an international transfer to Sparkasse Hildesheim take?

A SWIFT payment usually takes anywhere from one to several business days. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country add a day or more. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Money transfer services often show a status in their app so you can see how far the payment is.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the person who paid should contact the bank that sent it. Ask the sender for the payment receipt including the reference.

Changed bank details? Be careful

A common scam goes like this: you receive a message saying that a supplier has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. The fact that NOLADE21 exists does not mean that the account is legitimate.

Always confirm changed bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Be suspicious of time pressure, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. If money was sent to the wrong account, call your bank right away.

Scams also work the other way. Someone claims to have sent too much and wants you to refund the difference. Do not act before the money is actually in your account – ask Sparkasse Hildesheim if something looks wrong.

Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

The national currency in Germany is the Euro (EUR). If you send another currency has to be converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or Sparkasse Hildesheim itself. There is rarely a separate charge for the conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount. Often it is cheaper to send EUR directly through a provider with a good rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

The EUR rate changes constantly. If you pay regularly, small differences in the rate add up over time.

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

The layout of a BIC never changes: a bank code of four letters, two for the country and two for the location, sometimes followed by a branch code. For Sparkasse Hildesheim, the 8-character core is NOLADE21.

XXX at the end of NOLADE21HIK does not stand for a missing value or an error: it stands for the head office of Sparkasse Hildesheim. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, in which case you simply enter XXX behind NOLADE21.

Leave out spaces, dots when you enter NOLADE21 or NOLADE21HIK. Copying the code beats typing it by hand, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

SEPA payments and the Sparkasse Hildesheim BIC

Because Germany is in the SEPA zone, a euro transfer into Sparkasse Hildesheim from within the SEPA area normally only needs the IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC in that case.

You still need NOLADE21HIK for non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. If a payment form has a field for the BIC regardless, adding NOLADE21 does no harm.

Instant payments in euros are increasingly available within SEPA. Fees for SEPA transfers tend to be low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

Is NOLADE21 still correct? How to check

Ask the recipient to copy the account details straight from their online banking. When the code you were given does not match NOLADE21 or NOLADE21HIK, stop and ask – contact the recipient or Sparkasse Hildesheim.

Errors in the SWIFT code tend to be annoying more than disastrous – usually the money comes back, minus fees and time lost. A mistake in the account number can be more serious because it can reach the wrong person.

An automatic check by your bank merely confirms that the code is valid, not that it is the right account. Some banks now check the name against the account; take any warning seriously. When you pay someone new, some people start with a small amount first.

A note on our data

This directory draws on public sources and is updated regularly. Even so, banks merge or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Counts and locations are from our own dataset and may differ from what Sparkasse Hildesheim publishes.

See our directory on this page as a handy check. We are an independent comparison service and not part of Sparkasse Hildesheim. If you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a short note.

Sending money abroad from Sparkasse Hildesheim

What you pay for a payment abroad is made up of more than one component – not just the fee on your screen. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, rather than in the fee: the bank converts at a rate that includes a margin. Check their rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider is less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. Before your next transfer, take a minute to compare what arrives on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. Using a transfer service does not require leaving Sparkasse Hildesheim: you simply pay the service from your account.

Receiving money from abroad at Sparkasse Hildesheim

A sender in another country will ask for several details from you. The basics are: your name, IBAN or account number, NOLADE21HIK and often your home address.

Some banks also ask for the name and address of Sparkasse Hildesheim, so keep it at hand. Double-check the details before you send them.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs, especially for larger amounts.