Alef-Bank SWIFT/BIC code

ALEFRUMM – the SWIFT/BIC code of Alef-Bank

The short code ALEFRUMM and the 11-character code ALEFRUMMXXX refer to one and the same institution: Alef-Bank in Moscow, Russia. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to direct payments between countries to the correct institution. In daily life you mostly come across the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and in the bank details of Alef-Bank customers.

On this page you will find what the code is put together, when it matters and what else you need for a transfer to or from Alef-Bank. The BIC identifies an institution, never a single account, which is why you always need the account number too.

ALEFRUMM or ALEFRUMMXXX – which one to use?

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. Combined, those parts form ALEFRUMM – the version you usually see online.

Most payment forms accept either length. If yours asks for eleven characters, use ALEFRUMMXXX, otherwise ALEFRUMM is fine.

Enter the code as one block, in capitals and without separators, exactly as shown here. Pasting the code beats retyping it, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

Alef-Bank: head office code versus branch codes

We have 4 SWIFT/BIC codes for Alef-Bank in 4 cities. Besides the head office code ALEFRUMMXXX, you will find codes for regional offices and specialised units.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, go with ALEFRUMMXXX or its short form ALEFRUMM. If you have been given a specific code, use it as it is rather than swapping it with the head office code.

The safest route is to take the code straight from the recipient’s statement. Codes can change over time, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

How long does an international transfer to Alef-Bank take?

A SWIFT payment usually needs one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country add a day or more, since banks do not process on those days. Sometimes a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask your bank for the tracking status or the UETR; with that reference banks can see where the payment is. Save your transfer receipt; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the sender needs to start with their own bank rather than Alef-Bank. As a recipient, you can look at your account for a partial amount because fees can reduce the amount.

About this information

The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources. Even so, banks merge or retire codes. The figures on this page reflect what is in our directory and not on information from Alef-Bank itself.

Use this page as a reference, not as the final word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. GoldexPay has no connection to Alef-Bank. Found an error? Tell us through the contact page so we can correct it.

Getting paid from abroad into a Alef-Bank account

If you are waiting for money from abroad, give the sender everything they need in one go. Give them the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code ALEFRUMMXXX and your address.

The sender’s bank may request the bank address of Alef-Bank, in which case the Moscow head office is the usual answer. Double-check the details before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. 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 covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

International transfers from Alef-Bank: the real cost

A bank transfer abroad costs rather more than the fee suggests. On top of a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can deduct a fee, and when currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a rate below the real market rate.

The markup on the rate is often the largest item because it is hidden in the rate. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

For many routes, a specialist provider turns out to be cheaper than a bank. GoldexPay lists transfer providers next to each other, showing what actually arrives. You can still use your account at Alef-Bank.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

Fraudsters regularly send payment requests with changed bank details. The fact that ALEFRUMM exists is no guarantee that the account is legitimate – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Verify changed payment details through a different channel, such as a phone number you already know. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet are warning signs; a genuine business can wait for you to check. When money was sent to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately.

Scams can also target the receiver. Someone sends more than agreed and asks you to return the extra to a new account. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Is ALEFRUMM still correct? How to check

Have the recipient send you their account details directly from their online banking. When the code you were given does not match ALEFRUMM or ALEFRUMMXXX, stop and ask.

An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a returned payment or additional charges along the way. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there can be harder to undo than a wrong code.

Most online banking apps check the structure of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically. More and more banks compare the payee name against the account. When you pay someone new, some people start with a small amount first.