SWIFT/BIC codes in Russia: banks starting with Q

Russia: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

For Russia our database holds 1646 SWIFT/BIC codes from 785 banks. You need such a code mostly for international transfers and for payments in a foreign currency.

Choose a bank below to see the head office code and any branch codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Further down we explain how codes from Russia are built, how to send money to Russia without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Russia

To receive a transfer from abroad into a Russia account, the sender needs more than the SWIFT code. Give them the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Look up the bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details. Certain sending banks also ask for the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.

When does money sent to Russia arrive?

An international transfer to Russia usually takes anywhere from one to several business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday usually go out the next business day.

If the money is late, the sender should contact their own bank and ask for the status or the UETR – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived.

SWIFT transfers to Russia

Since Russia is outside SEPA, an international payment normally goes as a SWIFT payment. That means you always need the SWIFT/BIC code of the receiving bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

In some countries, the account is identified by a local account number instead of an IBAN. The receiving bank usually has a list of required details for payments from abroad – follow them exactly. International transfers can pass through correspondent banks and fees can be taken along the way.

The structure of a Russia SWIFT/BIC code

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long. The first four letters stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and the next two mark the location.

No matter which bank, every code from Russia share the same country code in positions five and six, namely the ISO code of Russia. If the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank somewhere else – worth double-checking.

When a code ends in XXX, it refers to the head office and the short version works just as well. For most transfers the head office code is fine, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Which bank in Russia has the most codes?

Of the 785 banks in Russia, JSC Rosselkhozbank is listed with the most codes. The head office of JSC Rosselkhozbank has RUAGRUMMXXX and that code covers most payments.

Many codes usually reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. If not a branch code is given, RUAGRUMMXXX is fine for a payment to JSC Rosselkhozbank.

Sending money to Russia for less

If you transfer money to Russia through a regular bank, the stated fee is only part of what you pay. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item. Compare the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

Money transfer services frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. Before you send money to Russia, take a minute comparing what arrives on GoldexPay.

About our data and how to check a code

The best place to find the correct BIC remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. If the code you have does not match the code listed here, stop and ask: check with the recipient or the bank.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is compiled from publicly available sources. Even so, banks merge or retire codes. Treat our data as a starting point: the bank details from the recipient come first. We are an independent comparison service.

Scammers regularly use payment requests with new bank details from what looks like a familiar address. Before paying, confirm a change of bank details by phone, using a number you already had.

Banks in Russia beginning with the letter :letter

Here you see a selection: just banks in Russia whose name begins with :letter. The totals mentioned above still refer to the whole country and not only this selection.

Bank not listed? The registered name may begin with another word. The full overview for Russia remains one click away when you cannot find the bank here.