Banque Pictet et Cie SA SWIFT/BIC code

PICTCHGG – the SWIFT/BIC code of Banque Pictet et Cie SA

PICTCHGG and PICTCHGGXXX are two spellings of the same bank identifier, and both lead to Banque Pictet et Cie SA in Geneva. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment exactly which bank is meant to get the money, much like a postcode for banks. You will need it mainly when dealing with payments that cross a border.

On this page you can read how the code is put together, when it matters and what else you need for a transfer to or from Banque Pictet et Cie SA. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify a personal account; for that you need the IBAN or account number .

Paying someone abroad from your Banque Pictet et Cie SA account

A bank transfer abroad costs rather more than the fee suggests. You pay the transfer fee, possibly charges from correspondent banks in between and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest cost, and it is easy to miss. A simple test: put the rate you get next to the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives with different providers, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot. Choosing a specialist does not mean closing your account at Banque Pictet et Cie SA: you simply pay the service from your account.

When will the money arrive at Banque Pictet et Cie SA?

A SWIFT payment typically takes one to a few 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 a business day later. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also cause some delay.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Specialist transfer services usually show tracking online showing how far the payment is.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the sender should start with the bank that sent it. On the receiving end, you can check your statements for a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

Watch out for payment fraud

One of the most common tricks goes like this: an email arrives with a request claiming that a supplier now has a new bank account and asking you to pay there from now on. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine – scammers simply use real codes.

Before paying, verify changed bank details through a phone call, using a number you already had. Be suspicious of urgent requests, odd spelling or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Contact your bank straight away and ask them to start a recall; also report it to the police.

People receiving money are targeted too: a classic trick is an overpayment followed by a request to send back the difference. Do not act before the money is actually in your account and check with Banque Pictet et Cie SA if anything seems off.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We collect bank codes from public sources and check them from time to time. Even so, banks merge or change codes. Figures such as the number of codes are from our own dataset and may differ from what Banque Pictet et Cie SA publishes.

Use this page as a starting point, rather than as the last word. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Banque Pictet et Cie SA. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message via the contact page.

Swiss Franc (CHF) and conversion costs

Most accounts at Banque Pictet et Cie SA are usually held in CHF, the local currency of Switzerland. Money sent in a different currency will be converted into CHF before it reaches the account, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. Every conversion eats into something – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Which bank converts the payment makes a difference: every bank has its own margin. Often it is cheaper if you send CHF straight away through a transfer service with a good rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

The CHF rate fluctuates constantly. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small difference in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

What the XXX in PICTCHGGXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. For Banque Pictet et Cie SA, the 8-character core is PICTCHGG.

The 11-character version adds a three-character extension for a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, they simply mean the head office, so PICTCHGGXXX and PICTCHGG are interchangeable.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without separators, exactly as shown here. A wrong character may route a payment to another bank.

SEPA payments and the Banque Pictet et Cie SA BIC

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to an account in Switzerland follow common rules. A field for the BIC is usually optional or missing in that case.

A SWIFT code like PICTCHGG does come into play when the currency is not euros. Some banks and apps also ask for the BIC out of habit; in that case, enter PICTCHGG.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land within one business day, and instant transfers in seconds where both banks support them. Fees for SEPA transfers tend to be low.

Choosing between the 2 SWIFT codes of Banque Pictet et Cie SA

Having 2 codes, Banque Pictet et Cie SA belongs to the banks that register individual codes for branches and departments. The main code is PICTCHGGXXX.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code PICTCHGGXXX is the right choice. Only use a branch code when your contact gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

The best way is to copy the code straight from the account holder’s invoice. Codes for branches are more prone to change than PICTCHGGXXX.

What to give a sender who pays you at Banque Pictet et Cie SA

To receive a transfer from abroad at Banque Pictet et Cie SA, the sender needs more than the SWIFT code. Give them your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC PICTCHGGXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Certain sending banks want the address of Banque Pictet et Cie SA in Geneva; it does no harm to include it. Check every detail before you share them.

Expect that the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee, Banque Pictet et Cie SA may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin applies. On invoices, it is common to agree how the fees are split.

Is PICTCHGG still correct? How to check

The most reliable source for the BIC is the recipient’s own bank details. Check it against PICTCHGG on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

Errors in the SWIFT code tend to be costly rather than disastrous. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there can be more difficult to undo than a wrong code.

A validity check in your banking app merely confirms that the code is valid – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. More and more banks check the name with the account before you confirm – do not ignore a mismatch warning. A small test payment is worth it for large sums.