SWIFT/BIC codes in Switzerland

Finding a SWIFT code in Switzerland

Here you will find codes for 697 banks in Switzerland, 1904 codes in all. You will need such a code mainly when making payments across borders.

Choose a bank from the list to view the head office code and its other codes along with tips for payments to and from that bank. Below the list you can read how a code from Switzerland is put together, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

Incoming international payments in Switzerland

For a transfer from abroad into a Switzerland account, the person paying you has to have more than the BIC. Share your name as registered with the bank, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Your bank’s code is in our list, yet the version on your own statement or in your banking app is leading. It helps to add the name and city of your bank as well.

What lands in your account can be lower than what was sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

Bank or transfer service for Switzerland?

An international bank payment to Switzerland often costs rather more than you think. There is the transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the money is converted.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest cost item. Check the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. Before you send money to Switzerland, it is worth to compare what arrives via GoldexPay rather than accepting the first rate you see.

Most SWIFT codes in Switzerland: Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft

Of all banks in Switzerland, Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft has the most codes. Its head office code is RAIFCH22XXX.

Banks differ in whether they register branch codes – a high count is not a measure of size. If not the recipient asks for a branch, RAIFCH22XXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

The structure of a Switzerland SWIFT/BIC code

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. It starts with a four-letter bank code, then two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

You can spot a bank code from Switzerland by the fifth and sixth characters: they always show the ISO country code of Switzerland. Codes with other letters in that position come from a bank abroad.

The long version ends in a branch code – XXX stands for the head office. Choose a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Switzerland and the Swiss Franc

Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc, with the currency code CHF. When you pay money in a different currency, the amount has to be converted somewhere along the way.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives. In many cases it is cheaper to send CHF directly via a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Rates for CHF move during the day – some providers let you lock in a rate.

How long does a transfer to Switzerland take?

There is no single answer for payments to Switzerland: some land within a day while others need several business days. Bank holidays in either country add a day or more to the journey.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR that banks can use to see where the money is. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Switzerland and the SEPA area

Switzerland is a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). For a regular euro transfer from another SEPA country, the IBAN is usually enough; many banks no longer ask for the BIC.

The BIC still matter when the currency is not euros. Instant payments in euros are widely available within SEPA. Fees are generally low provided no currency is converted – conversion is what costs money.

Check the code before you pay

Have the recipient copy the account details straight from their banking app. When the code you were given does not match the code listed here, stop and ask.

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and update our list from time to time. Institutions reorganise, close branches and change codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. Use this list as a reference. GoldexPay is not a bank and has no link to the banks in this list.

Be wary of payment requests with a new account – a common fraud method. A valid BIC tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine: criminals use real codes too.

Banks in Switzerland starting with :letter

This filter narrows the list down to banks in Switzerland starting with :letter, so you can find a bank faster. The totals mentioned above always cover all banks in Switzerland.

Some banks are listed under their official name, so the letter can differ from what you expect. Try the full list for Switzerland if you are not sure the exact name.