SWIFT/BIC codes in Russia

SWIFT/BIC codes in Russia

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 785 institutions in Russia, 1646 codes in all. You need a SWIFT/BIC code mainly when making international transfers, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Look for the bank you need in the list and open its page for all codes we have. The rest of this page explain how the codes work, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing.

Most SWIFT codes in Russia: JSC Rosselkhozbank

Of the 785 banks we list for Russia, JSC Rosselkhozbank has the largest number of SWIFT codes. The head office uses RUAGRUMMXXX.

The number of codes tells you something about how it organises its payments than about how big it is. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code RUAGRUMMXXX works for transfers to this bank.

Sending money to Russia for less

The price of a transfer to Russia is made up of several parts. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent banks may deduct a charge, and when the money is converted the bank often applies a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. Check the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. Before you send money to Russia, it is worth comparing the total cost on GoldexPay.

When does money sent to Russia arrive?

There is no fixed answer for payments to Russia: many arrive within a day. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before weekends and holidays often go out a business day later.

If a transfer is delayed, the sender should contact the sending bank; only the sending side can start an official trace. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.

How reliable is this list?

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. A wrong code can cause delays, a returned payment or extra fees.

This list draws on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Even so, banks merge or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Before any payment of any size, check the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is not a bank.

Be wary of invoices with a new account, especially when they come by email. A valid BIC tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine – scammers use the codes of real banks.

The structure of a Russia SWIFT/BIC code

Each SWIFT/BIC code has eight or eleven characters in a fixed order. It starts with a four-letter bank code, followed by two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

For banks in Russia, characters five and six show the ISO country code of Russia. A code with a different country code belong to a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

If the last three are XXX, it refers to the main office and the short version works just as well. In most cases the head office code is fine.

Receiving money in Russia from abroad

To receive a transfer from abroad in Russia, the person paying you needs not just the BIC. Share the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Your bank’s code is in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. Certain sending banks may also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

The amount you receive is often lower than what was sent. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Agree with the sender who pays which costs before the money is sent.

International payments to Russia and the BIC

Russia is outside the SEPA area. Payments from abroad usually go through the SWIFT network – which is why you need the BIC of the recipient’s bank.

Not every country uses IBAN numbers. Check with the recipient which details their bank requires for payments from abroad; banks often publish instructions for this. SWIFT payments can pass through one or more intermediary banks, each of which may deduct a fee.