Gris-Bank SWIFT/BIC code

Gris-Bank SWIFT code: GRIBRU21

Whether a recipient gives you GRIBRU21 or GRIBRU21XXX, you are looking at the same address for Gris-Bank in Russia. A SWIFT code tells the sending bank which institution should receive the money, much like a postcode for banks. It comes up mostly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

We wrote this page to help anyone who sends money to an account at Gris-Bank. The SWIFT code alone does not identify an individual account holder; for that you need the account number or IBAN is for.

What a transfer from Gris-Bank abroad really costs

When you send money abroad via Gris-Bank, the fee you see is rarely all of what you pay. There is the fee for the transfer itself, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate.

The markup on the rate is often the biggest item, and it is easy to miss. A simple test: set the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

For many routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a bank. GoldexPay compares these services side by side, showing the amount the recipient gets. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Gris-Bank – you pay the provider from your own account.

How up to date is this code?

We gather bank codes using publicly available data and check them regularly. Even so, banks merge or change codes, so information can be out of date. Figures such as the number of codes come from our directory.

Before any payment of any size, check the code with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. We are an independent comparison service and not affiliated with Gris-Bank. Found outdated information? Let us know through the contact page and we will look into it.

Gris-Bank: head office code versus branch codes

Our database contains 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Gris-Bank in 2 places. Next to the head office code GRIBRU21XXX, you will find codes for individual branches and departments.

In most cases there is no need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to GRIBRU21XXX are routed within Gris-Bank correctly. Branch codes are only needed if the account holder specifically asks for it, which is more common for corporate accounts and specialised services.

The best way is to copy the code straight from the recipient’s invoice. Branch codes are more prone to change than GRIBRU21XXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Gris-Bank

There is no fixed delivery time: many land within a day, others take several business days. Bank holidays in the sending or receiving country can add a day or more to the journey. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also add some delay, regardless of the details.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking in their app so you can see where the money has got.

A missing payment is traced from the sending side on the basis of the transfer details. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation; that often settles the question quickly.

What the XXX in GRIBRU21XXX means

Every SWIFT/BIC code starts with the same eight core characters: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. For Gris-Bank, that core is GRIBRU21.

The 11-character version has three more characters that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, they simply mean the head office.

Do not add spaces, dots when you type GRIBRU21 or GRIBRU21XXX. A single character can send a payment to a different institution, so copy it carefully.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

A common scam works like this: an email arrives with a request saying that a company has new bank details and asking you to pay there from now on. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about whether the request is genuine: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Verify new payment details through a separate channel, never via the email that asked for the change. Urgency or secrecy tend to be warning signs. If a payment has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is an overpayment and then sends a request to send back the difference to another account. Wait until the money has really arrived.

Is GRIBRU21 still correct? How to check

Have the recipient copy their bank details straight from their banking app. Check that code against GRIBRU21 here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a returned payment or extra fees along the way. A mistake in the IBAN or account number can be a bigger problem, because the money may be credited to someone else; check it just as carefully.

A validity check in your banking app only confirms that the IBAN is valid. More and more banks compare the name with the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. When you pay someone new, some people start with a small amount first before sending the rest.

Getting paid from abroad into a Gris-Bank account

A sender in another country will ask for several details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. That means: your name as registered with Gris-Bank, your IBAN or account number, the BIC GRIBRU21XXX and, often, your address.

Certain banks also ask for the bank’s address; it does no harm to include it. A typo in your account number is more trouble than it looks.

Money from abroad will not always land in full. Correspondent banks can take a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, a markup on the rate applies. For business payments, you can state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.