SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany: banks starting with U

Finding a SWIFT code in Germany

Our directory lists 2804 banks and other institutions in Germany, with 8518 SWIFT/BIC codes in total. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a transfer which institution is meant to get an international payment.

Choose the bank from the list to see the head office code and its other codes. The rest of this page covers the structure of the codes, what transfers cost and the checks worth doing.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable place for the correct BIC remains a document from the bank itself. When the code you were given does not match the code listed here, stop and ask – contact the recipient or their bank.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory draws on public sources that we update periodically. Banks merge, close branches and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Treat this list as a starting point: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is not a bank and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Scammers often use payment requests carrying new bank details that look completely genuine. Always verify changed details through a separate channel on a number you know.

The cheapest way to send money to Germany

The price of a transfer to Germany has several parts, and the fee on your screen is only one of them. There is a transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Check the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider is cheaper than a bank, mainly because of the rate. On GoldexPay we compare the amount that arrives in Germany across providers, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

SWIFT codes in Germany: banks under :letter

This list only shows banks in Germany whose name starts with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The figures for Germany mentioned here apply to every bank we list.

If a bank is missing here, try another letter: banks are often registered under their full legal name. Use the full list for Germany if you are not sure how the name is spelled.

Paying in euros to Germany

Because Germany is part of the SEPA zone, a euro payment to a bank in Germany normally only needs an IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC in that case.

A SWIFT code does come into play when the currency is not euros. Instant payments in euros have become widely available across SEPA, though not every bank offers them for every account. Costs stay low provided no currency is converted; the conversion is where it gets expensive.

The largest SWIFT network in Germany: Deutsche Bank AG

Deutsche Bank AG tops the list for Germany when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Deutsche Bank AG uses DEUTDE2HXXX.

Banks differ in how many codes they register, so the count is not a ranking of size. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, DEUTDE2HXXX is fine for a payment to Deutsche Bank AG.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Germany

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. Share your name as registered with the bank, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Your bank’s code appears in the list on this page, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. You can add your bank’s name and city as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

The amount you receive is often less than what was sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs.

The structure of a Germany SWIFT/BIC code

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long. First comes four letters for the bank, followed by a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

Whatever the bank, every code from Germany have the same fifth and sixth letters: the ISO code of the country. If those two letters do not match Germany, you are looking at a bank in another country.

If the last three are XXX, it means the main office. Choose a branch code just if the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

How long does a transfer to Germany take?

An international transfer to Germany typically needs anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Transfers sent late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday often go out the next business day.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Specialist transfer services often provide a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Most accounts in Germany are typically held in EUR – the Euro. Money sent in a different currency is converted into EUR before it reaches the account.

Which bank converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. In many cases you pay less if you send EUR directly via a transfer service with a good rate rather than letting the receiving bank convert. Rates for EUR change during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.