Novartis Pensionskasse SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Novartis Pensionskasse

If an invoice shows PKNOCHBS or PKNOCHBSXXX, you are looking at the same identifier for Novartis Pensionskasse in Switzerland. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to direct international transfers to the correct institution. In daily life you usually come across the code on international invoices, in your banking app and on the account details that Novartis Pensionskasse provides.

We wrote this page to help anyone who pays into an account at Novartis Pensionskasse. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify an individual account holder; that is what the IBAN or account number .

How to check PKNOCHBS before you pay

Ask the recipient to copy their bank details directly from their online banking. If the code you have does not match PKNOCHBS or PKNOCHBSXXX, do not guess.

With a wrong code, the payment may get stuck, bounce back or cost extra, and tracing it can take weeks. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else, so check that just as carefully.

An automatic check by your bank only confirms that the IBAN exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. More and more banks check the payee name with the account. For a first payment, some people start with a small test amount before sending the rest.

Swiss Franc (CHF) and conversion costs

Switzerland pays in the Swiss Franc, code CHF. Money sent in a different currency will be exchanged into CHF. Each conversion eats into something – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Who converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. Check how much CHF arrives via several services before choosing one.

The rate for CHF changes throughout the day, so the amount you see is usually only valid for a short time. If you pay regularly, small differences in the rate add up over time.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Novartis Pensionskasse

A SWIFT payment typically needs one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Payments made late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday often go out a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment before releasing it.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi. Each gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Keep the payment confirmation – you will need it for any trace request.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace or a recall. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation; that often settles the question quickly.

8 or 11 characters: PKNOCHBS versus PKNOCHBSXXX

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with the same eight core characters: four letters for the bank, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. Combined, these eight characters make up PKNOCHBS, the code most people search for.

XXX at the end of PKNOCHBSXXX is not a missing value or an error: it stands for the head office of Novartis Pensionskasse. Some banking apps ask for 11 characters, and then you simply enter XXX after PKNOCHBS.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without separators. Copying the code beats retyping it.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We collect bank codes using public sources and check our list regularly. It can happen that information on this page is no longer current after a merger or reorganisation. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory.

Use our data as a starting point, rather than as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. We are a comparison site and not affiliated with Novartis Pensionskasse. Spotted outdated information? Let us know via our contact form so we can correct it.

Scams that use SWIFT codes

A common scam goes like this: an email arrives with a message saying that a company now has new bank details and that the next payment should go there. A correct SWIFT code says nothing about whether the request is genuine: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Verify new payment details via a separate channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract, not by replying to the message. Urgency and secrecy tend to be red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. Already paid? Contact your bank without delay and ask them to try to recall the payment.

Fraud also target the receiver: someone claims to have sent more than agreed and wants you to return the extra to a new account. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing.

Receiving money from abroad at Novartis Pensionskasse

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs several details about your account. The basics are: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, PKNOCHBSXXX or PKNOCHBS and, for some countries, your home address.

Certain banks want the name and address of Novartis Pensionskasse, so keep it at hand. Check each detail before you send them.

An incoming payment does not always arrive for the full amount. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank – the price list of Novartis Pensionskasse tells you what applies. For business payments, you can state who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

What a transfer from Novartis Pensionskasse abroad really costs

If you transfer money abroad via Novartis Pensionskasse, the fee you see is rarely all of the cost. There is the transfer fee, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

The markup on the rate tends to be the largest item, and it is easy to miss. Compare their rate against the mid-market rate. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Specialised transfer providers frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate. Before your next transfer, it is worth to compare what arrives via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. You can always use your account at Novartis Pensionskasse as the source of the money.

Head office or branch code at Novartis Pensionskasse?

Having 11 codes in 2 cities, Novartis Pensionskasse belongs to the banks that use separate codes for parts of the organisation. The main code remains PKNOCHBSXXX.

In most cases you do not need to pick a branch: transfers sent to PKNOCHBSXXX are routed within Novartis Pensionskasse correctly. When you receive a branch code, stick to it rather than swapping it for the head office code.

Unsure which code applies? Ask the recipient, or look at a recent statement from Novartis Pensionskasse. Branch codes are more likely to change than PKNOCHBSXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Euro transfers to Novartis Pensionskasse: is a BIC needed?

Inside SEPA, euro payments to an account in Switzerland use common rules and in most cases need only the IBAN. The BIC field is usually optional or missing for those payments.

You still need PKNOCHBSXXX for payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. If your banking app asks for the BIC regardless, entering PKNOCHBS does no harm.

Instant euro transfers have become increasingly available within SEPA; check with Novartis Pensionskasse whether it applies to your account. Provided no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer tends to be inexpensive.