Commerzbank AG SWIFT/BIC code

COBASKBX – the SWIFT/BIC code of Commerzbank AG

COBASKBX and COBASKBXXXX are two spellings of the same bank identifier, and both lead to Commerzbank AG in Bratislava. A SWIFT code tells the sending bank which institution is meant to get the money, much like a postcode for banks. In daily life you mostly come across it on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details of Commerzbank AG customers.

On this page we explain how the code means, when it matters and what else you need for a transfer to or from Commerzbank AG. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN is for.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Commerzbank AG

An international transfer typically takes one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Weekends and public holidays in either country add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for, which can hold things up.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Specialist transfer services often provide a status in their app showing how far the payment is.

Only the sending bank is able to request a trace; the receiving side usually has nothing to trace yet. As a recipient, it helps to check your account to see a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

How up to date is this code?

The details on this page are taken from publicly available data which we refresh regularly. Banks reorganise, close branches and change codes, and a directory never catches every change immediately. Counts and locations come from our directory and are not confirmed by Commerzbank AG.

Treat the information here as a helpful check. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service and not affiliated with Commerzbank AG. Spotted an error? Let us know via our contact form so we can correct it.

Head office or branch code at Commerzbank AG?

Having 2 codes in 1 locations, Commerzbank AG belongs to the banks that register individual codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The head office code is COBASKBXXXX.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code COBASKBXXXX works fine. When you receive a specific code, use it as it is instead of replacing it for the head office code.

The best way is to take the code straight from the account holder’s invoice. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than COBASKBXXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

COBASKBX or COBASKBXXXX – which one to use?

A BIC is built from a few fixed parts: the first four letters stand for the bank, characters five and six show the country and characters seven and eight mark the location. That gives you COBASKBX for Commerzbank AG.

The 11-character version has a three-character extension that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office, which is why COBASKBXXXX and COBASKBX lead to the same place.

In practice the code is typed in capitals and without spaces. Look out for the letter O and the digit 0 or I versus 1; they are easy to mix up.

Euro transfers to Commerzbank AG: is a BIC needed?

Because Slovakia is in the SEPA zone, a euro payment into Commerzbank AG from another SEPA country usually requires just an IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC for these payments.

The BIC still matter for payments in other currencies and when the money comes from outside SEPA. If your banking app has a field for the BIC regardless, adding COBASKBX does no harm.

SEPA transfers usually arrive by the next business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Fees for SEPA payments are generally low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

Receiving money from abroad at Commerzbank AG

For an international payment at Commerzbank AG, the person paying you needs not just the BIC. In practice that means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code COBASKBXXXX and usually your postal address.

It helps to include the bank name and Bratislava as well. A typo in the IBAN can be harder to fix than you might think.

An incoming payment does not always arrive in full. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. For business payments, you can agree who bears the costs.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

One of the most common tricks goes like this: you receive a request claiming that a contact has new bank details and that the next payment should go there. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Check changed payment details through a different channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, not by replying to the message. Be suspicious of time pressure, unusual wording or a sender address that is slightly off. Already paid? Call the bank you paid from straight away and have them try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to refund the difference abroad. A payment confirmation from the sender is no proof – check your own account.

Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

The currency in Slovakia is the Euro (EUR). When you pay money in a different currency, the amount has to be converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or Commerzbank AG itself. Each conversion costs the amount, even when no fee is shown.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on how much arrives, as rates and margins differ per bank. Transferring the amount already in EUR often avoids a second conversion, provided the rate you get is fair.

Rates for EUR move all the time – some services let you fix a rate in advance. With bigger transfers, a small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

What a transfer from Commerzbank AG abroad really costs

What you pay for an international transfer has more than one component, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. There is the fee for the transfer itself, possibly charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the currency changes.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest cost because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: put the bank’s rate next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Money transfer services frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate. GoldexPay lists these services side by side so you can see what actually arrives. Choosing a specialist does not require closing your account at Commerzbank AG.

Is COBASKBX still correct? How to check

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. Check it with COBASKBX here.

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

Most online banking apps validate the format of IBANs. Where available, a name check on the recipient gives extra certainty. Sending a small amount first is a sensible step for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.