SWIFT/BIC codes in Switzerland

Switzerland: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

In Switzerland we have 1904 SWIFT/BIC codes, spread over 697 banks. Every code points to an institution or a specific branch or department and tells other banks where an international payment should go.

Look for the bank you need below and click through to see all codes we have. Further down you can read how a code from Switzerland is put together, how to send money to Switzerland without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

How long does a transfer to Switzerland take?

There is no single answer for transfers to Switzerland: some land within a day while others need several business days. Bank holidays in Switzerland or in the sending country add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often provide a status in their app.

Euro payments to Switzerland: is a BIC needed?

Since Switzerland is part of the SEPA zone, a euro payment to an account in Switzerland normally requires just the IBAN. Most banking apps do not require the BIC for these payments.

You still need a SWIFT code for non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. Instant payments in euros are widely supported within SEPA, though not every bank offers them for every account. Provided no conversion is involved, the transfer is usually inexpensive.

The structure of a Switzerland SWIFT/BIC code

Every SWIFT/BIC code consists of 8 or 11 characters, always in the same order. First comes a four-letter bank code, then a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

For banks in Switzerland, characters five and six show the ISO country code of Switzerland. If the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank in another country, so check again.

The optional last three characters stand for a branch or department; XXX is used for the head office. Choose a branch code just if the recipient explicitly gives you one.

Incoming international payments in Switzerland

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. In practice that means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and sometimes your postal address.

Find the bank in the list on this page, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Some sending banks also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

Expect that the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate applies. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.

The cheapest way to send money to Switzerland

When you transfer money to Switzerland with a regular bank, the stated fee is rarely all of what you pay. Besides the fee, intermediary banks can deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank usually uses a less favourable rate than the actual market rate.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest part of the cost, even though it is not listed as a fee. Check the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. GoldexPay lists these providers next to each other, showing what actually arrives in Switzerland for the same amount sent.

Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft and its SWIFT codes

Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft tops the list of Switzerland banks when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office uses RAIFCH22XXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

A large number of codes often means that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. Unless a branch code is given, RAIFCH22XXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

Paying in CHF: what conversion costs you

The currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). If you send another currency, it has to be converted at some point.

Who converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Compare how much CHF the recipient gets via different services before choosing one. Exchange rates change during the day.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is compiled from publicly available sources. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes. For any payment that matters, confirm the code with the recipient’s bank. GoldexPay is an independent comparison service and not part of any bank listed here.

Scammers regularly use payment requests with changed bank details from what looks like a familiar address. A real SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: criminals use real codes too.