SWIFT/BIC codes in Russia: banks starting with O

Finding a SWIFT code in Russia

In Russia we have 1646 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 785 institutions. Each code points to an institution or one of its branches.

Each bank is listed with its own page showing the head office code and, where available, branch codes. Further down you can read how codes from Russia are built, how to send money to Russia without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

How reliable is this list?

The safest source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. If the code you have differs from the code listed here, stop and ask.

This list draws on public sources that we update periodically. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. Use this list as a starting point; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and is not affiliated with the banks listed.

Watch out for payment requests containing a new account – a common fraud method. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: criminals use real codes too.

Banks in Russia starting with :letter

Here you see a selection: only institutions in Russia whose name begins with :letter. The totals mentioned above always cover all banks in Russia, not just this letter.

If a bank does not appear here, try the full list – the registered name can differ from the name people use. The complete list is one click away if you cannot find the bank here.

Why a transfer to Russia needs a SWIFT code

To pay into Russia you almost always need a SWIFT/BIC code. Without the BIC, most banks cannot send the transfer.

Not every country uses IBAN numbers – where there is none, the local account number is enough. The receiving bank often provides instructions for payments from abroad. Before it arrives, a payment may go through correspondent banks that take a fee.

The cheapest way to send money to Russia

If you send money to Russia via your bank, the stated fee is rarely all of the cost. On top of the fee, intermediary banks can deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest cost item. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many routes, a specialist provider is cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients in Russia receive with different services, so you can pick the cheapest route.

Receiving money in Russia from abroad

A sender in another country will ask for several details from you. That means: your name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and, often, your postal address.

Find the bank in the list above to check its code. Some banks also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below what the sender paid. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank; check the price list of your bank. For business payments, agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

The largest SWIFT network in Russia: JSC Rosselkhozbank

JSC Rosselkhozbank tops the list of Russia banks in the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of JSC Rosselkhozbank uses RUAGRUMMXXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Banks differ in how many codes they register. If not the recipient asks for a branch, RUAGRUMMXXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

When does money sent to Russia arrive?

How fast money arrives in Russia is determined by a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Transfers sent late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer gets a unique reference, the UETR. Save the payment confirmation; a bank needs it to start a trace.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Russia

Bank identifier codes follow one international format: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. The first four letters stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and characters seven and eight mark the location.

Whatever the bank, every code from Russia have the same fifth and sixth letters, namely the ISO code of Russia. Codes with other letters in that position come from another country – a quick way to catch mistakes.

The long version ends in a branch code, where XXX means the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.