Pkb Privatbank AG SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Pkb Privatbank AG

The 8-character code PKBSCH22 and the 11-character code PKBSCH22XXX refer to one and the same institution: Pkb Privatbank AG, with its head office in Lugano. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses these codes to route payments between countries to the correct institution. It comes up mainly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

On this page you can read what the code means, when you need it and which other details you need for a transfer to or from Pkb Privatbank AG. The SWIFT code on its own cannot identify an individual account holder; that is what the account number or IBAN is for.

How long does an international transfer to Pkb Privatbank AG take?

How fast a payment reaches Pkb Privatbank AG depends on several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Payments made after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often start a business day later. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for.

If a transfer seems late, ask your bank for the tracking status and the transaction reference. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived – you will need it for any trace request.

If the money does not arrive after a few business days, the person who paid should start with their own bank rather than Pkb Privatbank AG. On the receiving end, you can look at your account for a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

8 or 11 characters: PKBSCH22 versus PKBSCH22XXX

The structure of a BIC is always the same: a bank code of four letters, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code, sometimes followed by a branch code. The result is PKBSCH22 for Pkb Privatbank AG.

Most banks and apps work with either length. If yours requires eleven characters, use PKBSCH22XXX; if it wants eight, use PKBSCH22.

Type the code in one piece, in capitals and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 or I versus 1, a common source of typos.

Sending money abroad from Pkb Privatbank AG

An international bank payment costs rather more than the fee suggests. There is the fee for the transfer itself, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest item because it is hidden in the rate. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

For many routes, a transfer service turns out to be cheaper than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. Before your next transfer, it is worth comparing the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. You can still keep your account at Pkb Privatbank AG to fund the transfer.

Which of the 5 codes of Pkb Privatbank AG do you need?

Having 5 codes, Pkb Privatbank AG belongs to the banks that use separate codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The main code remains PKBSCH22XXX.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code PKBSCH22XXX is what you need. Just use a branch code when your contact explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes are sometimes changed or retired over time, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

SEPA payments and the Pkb Privatbank AG BIC

Switzerland is a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), where euro transfers follow common rules. When you send euros from another SEPA country, you normally only need the IBAN and the BIC is often filled in automatically.

You will still need PKBSCH22XXX for non-euro payments or money from outside the SEPA area. If your banking app has a field for the BIC regardless, entering PKBSCH22 is fine.

Instant euro transfers are widely available within SEPA; check with Pkb Privatbank AG whether it applies to your account. As long as no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer is inexpensive; it is the conversion that costs money.

Is PKBSCH22 still correct? How to check

The best place to find the right code is a document from the bank itself. Check it against PKBSCH22 on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

Errors in the SWIFT code tend to be annoying rather than disastrous: often the payment comes back, minus fees. An error in the account number is a bigger problem, 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 code exists, not that it is the right account. If your bank offers it, a payee name check before sending gives extra certainty. A small test payment is a sensible step for large sums.

Receiving money from abroad at Pkb Privatbank AG

If you are waiting for a payment from another country, send the payer a complete set of details. The basics are: your name, account number or IBAN, PKBSCH22XXX or PKBSCH22 and, for some countries, your home address.

Their bank may also ask for the bank address of Pkb Privatbank AG, in which case the Lugano head office is the usual answer. A typo in the IBAN can be harder to fix than you might think.

What lands in your account can be less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank – the price list of Pkb Privatbank AG tells you what applies. For business payments, you can agree how the fees are split, so that nobody is left short.

Changed bank details? Be careful

One of the most common tricks goes like this: you receive a message saying that a contact now has a new bank account. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account – scammers simply use real codes.

Do not rely on contact details from the same email that announces the change. Pressure or secrecy tend to be warning signs – a real supplier can wait a day. If money was sent to the wrong account, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

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.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

This directory draws on publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Banks reorganise, change names and change codes. The number of codes we show are based on what is in our directory and not on information from Pkb Privatbank AG itself.

Treat the information here as a helpful check. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and not affiliated with Pkb Privatbank AG. Should you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a message via the contact page.

Swiss Franc (CHF) and conversion costs

Accounts at Pkb Privatbank AG are usually held in CHF, the local currency. When you pay another currency it gets converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or Pkb Privatbank AG itself. Every conversion eats into something, even when no fee is shown.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives, since every bank sets its own rate. Compare how much CHF arrives via several providers.

The rate for CHF fluctuates constantly. For recurring payments, a slightly better rate add up over time.