Basler Kantonalbank SWIFT/BIC code

Basler Kantonalbank SWIFT code: BKBBCHBB

BKBBCHBB and BKBBCHBBXXX are two spellings of the same bank identifier, and both point to Basler Kantonalbank in Basle. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain which institution is meant to get the money. In daily life you usually come across the code on international invoices, in your banking app and in the bank details that Basler Kantonalbank provides.

Further down you will find the practical side: receiving money at Basler Kantonalbank, sending money abroad and how to check a SWIFT code before you hit send. Remember that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the person: the IBAN or account number takes care of that.

Sending money abroad from Basler Kantonalbank

When you send money abroad through Basler Kantonalbank, the fee you see is only part of the cost. There is the transfer fee, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the currency changes.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: many banks convert at a rate that includes a margin. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

Specialist money transfer services often offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. Before your next transfer, it is worth comparing what arrives on GoldexPay. Choosing a specialist does not require leaving Basler Kantonalbank – you pay the provider from your own account.

About this information

This directory is compiled from publicly available sources and we update it periodically. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. The number of codes we show reflect our own data and not on information from Basler Kantonalbank itself.

Before a payment that matters, always confirm the code with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is a comparison site for money transfers and not part of Basler Kantonalbank. Found an error? Let us know via our contact form and we will look into it.

When will the money arrive at Basler Kantonalbank?

There is no fixed answer: many land within a day. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday usually start the next business day. Occasionally a bank asks about the purpose of a payment, which can hold things up.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank about the status and the transaction reference. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace – the recipient’s bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Ask the sender for the payment receipt including the reference; that often settles the question quickly.

Do you need BKBBCHBB for a SEPA transfer?

Switzerland is a member of the SEPA area, where euro transfers follow common rules. When you send euros within SEPA, you normally only need the IBAN.

For anything other than euros and for senders outside SEPA, BKBBCHBBXXX or BKBBCHBB remains part of the payment details. If a payment form has a field for the BIC regardless, entering BKBBCHBB does no harm.

SEPA transfers usually arrive within one business day. Fees for SEPA payments are generally low, as long as no currency conversion is involved.

Which of the 2 codes of Basler Kantonalbank do you need?

Our database contains 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Basler Kantonalbank in 2 cities. Besides the head office code BKBBCHBBXXX, there are codes for regional offices and specialised units.

In most cases you do not need to look up a branch: transfers addressed to BKBBCHBBXXX reach Basler Kantonalbank correctly. If you have been given a branch code, use it as it is rather than swapping it for the head office code.

The best way is to copy the code directly from the account holder’s statement. Codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so do not rely on old paperwork.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Basler Kantonalbank

The best place to find the correct BIC remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. Check it with BKBBCHBB here; if they differ, ask before you pay.

Mistakes in the SWIFT code tend to be costly more than disastrous – usually the money comes back, minus fees and time lost. A mistake in the account number is a bigger problem, because the money may be credited to someone else, so check that just as carefully.

Most online banking apps check the format of IBANs and some suggest the matching BIC. If your bank offers it, a name check on the recipient gives extra certainty. A small test payment can be a sensible step for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

A common scam goes like this: you receive a request saying that a supplier now has a new bank account and that the next payment should go there. That BKBBCHBB is a real code does not mean that the account is legitimate.

Never trust contact details in the same message that announces the new account. Watch out for time pressure, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. Acted too fast? Call your bank straight away and ask them to try to recall the payment.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference abroad. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof.

8 or 11 characters: BKBBCHBB versus BKBBCHBBXXX

A BIC is built from fixed blocks: the first four letters identify the bank, the next two show the country and the two after that indicate the location. That gives you BKBBCHBB, the short form of the code.

The 11-character version adds a three-character extension that identify a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, the code points to the head office.

Leave out spaces, dots when you type BKBBCHBB. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 or I versus 1.

Receiving money from abroad at Basler Kantonalbank

When you are waiting for money from abroad, give the sender all details at once. Give them your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, SWIFT code BKBBCHBBXXX and your address, which some banks require.

It helps to add the bank name and its city too, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. A typo in your account number can be more trouble than it looks; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank. On invoices, it is common to state who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

The Swiss Franc and what conversion costs you

The local currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). If you send another currency has to be converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or Basler Kantonalbank itself. Every conversion eats into something, even when no fee is shown.

Which bank converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Check what CHF the recipient gets with different providers before choosing one.

Rates for CHF move during the day. For recurring payments, small differences in the rate add up over time.