SWIFT/BIC codes in Russia: banks starting with G

Finding a SWIFT code in Russia

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 785 institutions in Russia, 1646 codes in all. Every code identifies a bank or one of its branches and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Search for the bank you need below and open its page to see all codes we have and what else a transfer requires. The rest of this page covers the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing before you send money.

The largest SWIFT network in Russia: JSC Rosselkhozbank

In our data, JSC Rosselkhozbank has the most SWIFT/BIC codes in Russia. The head office uses RUAGRUMMXXX.

How many codes a bank has tells you something about how it organises its payments than about its size. Paying someone at JSC Rosselkhozbank? Use RUAGRUMMXXX unless a specific branch code is requested.

How reliable is this list?

Have the recipient send you their bank details straight from a recent statement. A wrong code may lead to delays, a returned payment or additional charges.

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and check them regularly. Institutions merge, close branches and change codes. Use this list as a starting point rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. We are a comparison service and not part of any bank listed here.

Be wary of invoices with changed bank details, especially when they come by email. Always confirm changed details through a separate channel, using a number you already had.

Filter: banks in Russia with :letter

This filter narrows the list down to banks from Russia that begin with :letter. The figures for Russia on this page cover every bank we list.

Many institutions appear under their legal name, which may start with words like Bank or Banco. The complete list remains one click away when the letter filter does not help.

The cheapest way to send money to Russia

When you send money to Russia through a regular bank, the stated fee is rarely all of the cost. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

That exchange rate margin is often the largest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: set the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of routes, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other, showing what actually arrives in Russia.

Transfer times to Russia

An international transfer to Russia usually needs anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before weekends and holidays often start the next business day.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Save your transfer receipt – you will need it if something goes wrong.

What a sender needs to pay you in Russia

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details from you. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your address.

The code of your bank appears in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. Certain sending banks also ask for your bank’s address.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank. For business payments, state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Paying a bank in Russia from abroad

For Russia you almost always need a SWIFT/BIC code, because the country is outside the SEPA area. Without it, most banks cannot send the payment at all.

In some countries, accounts are identified by a domestic account number instead of an IBAN, sometimes with an extra bank or branch code. The recipient’s bank usually provides instructions for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. On the way to Russia, a transfer may pass through correspondent banks that charge for their part.

How SWIFT codes from Russia are built

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. It starts with a four-letter bank code, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

You can spot a bank code from Russia from the fifth and sixth characters. A code with other letters in that position belong to another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

When a code ends in XXX, it means the head office and the short version works just as well. Choose a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.