SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany: banks starting with X

Bank SWIFT codes for Germany

Here you will find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 2804 institutions in Germany – 8518 codes altogether. A BIC shows the banks handling a transfer exactly which bank is meant to get the money.

Look for the bank you need in the list and open its page to see the full list of codes and what else a transfer requires. Further down you can read how codes from Germany are built, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

Banks in Germany beginning with the letter :letter

Here you see a selection: only banks in Germany whose name begins with :letter. The counts in the introduction still cover the whole country.

Bank not listed? The registered name may begin with another word. Try the full list for Germany when you are not sure how the name is spelled.

Check the code before you pay

Ask the recipient to copy their bank details directly from a recent statement. When the code you were given does not match the code listed here, stop and ask.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and check them regularly. Banks merge, close branches and change codes. For any payment that matters, check the BIC with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is a comparison site and not part of any bank listed here.

Fraudsters regularly use fake invoices carrying changed bank details from what looks like a familiar address. A valid BIC tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers use the codes of real banks.

Sending EUR to Germany

Bank accounts in Germany are usually held in EUR. Money sent in a different currency is converted into EUR on its way to the recipient – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on how much arrives, as rates and margins differ per bank. Check how much EUR arrives with several services. Exchange rates change during the day.

What a transfer to Germany really costs

An international bank payment to Germany can cost more than you think. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites. The difference is your real cost.

Money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Before your next transfer to Germany, take a minute to compare the total cost via GoldexPay.

Deutsche Bank AG and its SWIFT codes

In our data, Deutsche Bank AG holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Germany. The head office of Deutsche Bank AG uses DEUTDE2HXXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Many codes often reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not a branch code is given, 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 will ask for several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Look up your bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details. You can add your bank’s name and city as well.

What lands in your account can be lower than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank. On invoices, agree who bears the costs.

When does money sent to Germany arrive?

How quickly money reaches Germany depends on several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi. Each payment carries a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms.

Paying in euros to Germany

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to Germany use common rules. A field for the BIC is often optional in that case.

You will still need the BIC for payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Instant euro transfers have become widely supported across SEPA. Fees are generally low provided no currency is converted.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Germany

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

Whatever the bank, every code from Germany have the same country code in positions five and six, namely the ISO code of Germany. When the country letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else, so check again.

The long version ends in a branch code, where XXX means the head office. Use a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.