SWIFT/BIC codes in Switzerland: banks starting with G

Bank SWIFT codes for Switzerland

This overview contains 697 banks and financial institutions in Switzerland, with 1904 SWIFT/BIC codes in total. Every code identifies an institution or one of its branches.

Select the bank from the list to view the head office code and any branch codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. The sections below covers how the codes work, what transfers cost and how to avoid mistakes.

Incoming international payments in Switzerland

If you expect a payment from another country in Switzerland, send the payer everything they need in one go. Give them your name as registered with the bank, your account number or IBAN, your bank’s SWIFT code and your address, which some banks require.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page. Certain sending banks may also ask for your bank’s address, so keep it at hand.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is below what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin comes on top. Agree with the sender who covers the fees.

Paying in CHF: what conversion costs you

Most accounts in Switzerland are typically held in CHF, the local currency. Money sent in a different currency will be exchanged into CHF on its way to the recipient – and the bank that does it picks the rate.

Which bank converts the money makes a difference: every bank has its own margin. Often you pay less if you send CHF directly via a provider that converts near the mid-market rate. With bigger transfers, a seemingly small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft and its SWIFT codes

In our directory, Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes of all banks in Switzerland. Its main office has RAIFCH22XXX.

A large number of codes usually reflects that the bank registers branches and departments separately, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Making a payment to Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft? Go with RAIFCH22XXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

Transfer times to Switzerland

How quickly money reaches Switzerland depends on a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and differences in time zone. Payments made late in the day or just before weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Keep your transfer receipt until the money has arrived – you will need it if something goes wrong.

What a transfer to Switzerland really costs

When you send money to Switzerland with a regular bank, the stated fee is only part of the cost. There is a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks and, above all, the exchange rate markup.

The markup on the rate is often the largest cost item. Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate. The difference is your real cost.

Specialist money transfer services frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate. Before you send money to Switzerland, take a minute comparing the total cost on GoldexPay.

How SWIFT codes from Switzerland are built

Bank identifier codes use the same format worldwide: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. It starts with four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

You can recognise a bank code from Switzerland by letters five and six. When the country letters do not match Switzerland, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else – worth double-checking.

The long version adds a branch code – XXX stands for the head office. Choose a branch code just when the recipient explicitly gives you one; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

How reliable is this list?

Ask the recipient to send you the account details straight from their online banking. An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges.

We gather bank codes from publicly available data and check our list regularly. Even so, banks merge or retire codes. Treat our data as a starting point rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and not part of any bank listed here.

Scammers regularly use fake invoices with changed bank details that look completely genuine. A real SWIFT code says nothing about whether a request is genuine: criminals use real codes too.

Banks in Switzerland starting with :letter

This list only shows the banks in Switzerland whose name starts with :letter in alphabetical order. The totals mentioned above still cover all banks in Switzerland, not just this letter.

Bank not listed? The registered name may begin with another word – think of the full legal name instead of the brand. The complete list remains one click away when you cannot find the bank here.

Paying in euros to Switzerland

Within the SEPA zone, euro transfers to Switzerland use common rules, so the IBAN does the job in most cases. A field for the BIC is often optional in that case.

You will still need the BIC for non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive within one business day. Costs stay low as long as no currency is converted – conversion is what costs money.