SWIFT/BIC codes in Russia

Russia: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

On this page you find codes for 785 banks in Russia, 1646 codes in all. Every code points to an institution or one of its branches and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Look for the recipient’s bank in the list and open its page to see the full list of codes and what else a transfer requires. The rest of this page explain the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and how to avoid mistakes.

Sending money to Russia for less

A bank transfer to Russia can cost more than the fee suggests. There is a transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup when currencies differ.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. Check the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate. The difference is your real cost.

Specialised transfer providers often offer a rate near the mid-market rate. GoldexPay lists these providers side by side so you can see the amount that reaches the recipient before you commit.

The largest SWIFT network in Russia: JSC Rosselkhozbank

Of all banks we list for Russia, JSC Rosselkhozbank has the most SWIFT codes. Its main office uses RUAGRUMMXXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

A large number of codes usually reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, RUAGRUMMXXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

How reliable is this list?

The best place to find the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. If the code you have differs from our list, stop and ask – contact the recipient or their bank.

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes using publicly available data and update them regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. For any payment that matters, check the code with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site.

Watch out for payment requests with a new account – a common fraud method. A real SWIFT code says nothing about whether a request is genuine.

Banks in Russia starting with :letter

This list shows only banks in Russia beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The figures for Russia on this page cover every bank we list and not only this letter.

Cannot find the bank? Its official name may begin with another word, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. Use the full list for Russia when you are not sure the exact name.

Receiving money in Russia from abroad

For an international payment into a Russia account, the person paying you has to have more than the SWIFT code. In practice that means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your address.

Your bank’s code appears in our list. Certain sending banks also ask for the name and address of your bank.

The amount you receive can be lower than what was sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank; check the price list of your bank. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

When does money sent to Russia arrive?

How quickly a payment arrives in Russia is determined by several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Bank holidays in either country can add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact their own bank – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Specialist transfer services usually show tracking in their app.

How SWIFT codes from Russia are built

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

Whatever the bank, all Russia codes share the same fifth and sixth letters: the ISO code of the country. When those two letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else, so check again.

The long version adds three characters for a branch – XXX stands for the head office. In most cases the head office code is fine unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

Paying a bank in Russia from abroad

Russia is outside the SEPA area, so European euro rules do not apply. International transfers to Russia normally travel over the SWIFT network, and the BIC of the receiving bank is required.

Depending on the country, the account is identified by a local account number rather than an IBAN and sometimes a local routing or branch code. The receiving bank usually provides a list of required details for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. SWIFT payments sometimes go via correspondent banks and fees can be taken along the way.