SWIFT/BIC codes in Switzerland: banks starting with R

Switzerland: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

Here you will find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 697 institutions in Switzerland – 1904 codes altogether. Each code points to a bank or one of its branches.

Select a bank below to view the head office code and its other codes along with tips for payments to and from that bank. The sections below covers the structure of the codes, the cost of transfers and how to avoid mistakes.

Banks in Switzerland beginning with the letter :letter

This list shows only banks in Switzerland beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The figures for Switzerland on this page cover every bank we list.

Bank not listed? The registered name might begin with another word, for example the full legal name rather than a brand name. The full overview for Switzerland is one click away if the letter filter does not help.

About our data and how to check a code

Have the recipient copy the account details directly from their banking app. An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees.

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from publicly available data and update them from time to time. Banks merge, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use this list as a reference, not as the final word: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is not a bank.

Be wary of payment requests with a new account. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine.

Paying in euros to Switzerland

Since Switzerland is part of SEPA, a euro payment to a bank in Switzerland normally requires just the IBAN. Many banks do not require the BIC in that case.

You still need the BIC for payments in other currencies or money from outside the SEPA area. SEPA transfers normally land within one business day. As long as no conversion is involved, a SEPA transfer is usually inexpensive.

Receiving money in Switzerland from abroad

For an international payment into a Switzerland account, the person paying you needs not just the SWIFT code. In practice that means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code of your bank and usually your postal address.

Look up your bank in the list on this page to check its code – your bank statement is the final word. Certain banks may also want the name and address of your bank; it does no harm to include it.

The amount you receive is often less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank; check the price list of your bank. On invoices, agree who bears the costs.

What the letters in a Switzerland BIC mean

Every SWIFT/BIC code has eight or eleven characters. It starts with four letters for the bank, followed by a two-letter country code and a two-character location code.

You can spot a code from Switzerland by the fifth and sixth characters – those always form the country code of Switzerland. If the country letters do not match Switzerland, the code belongs to a bank in another country.

The last three characters, if present, identify a branch or department; XXX is used for the head office. Use a branch code only if the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

The cheapest way to send money to Switzerland

The price of a payment to Switzerland is made up of several parts. On top of the fee, intermediary banks may deduct a charge and, if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For many currency pairs, a specialist provider is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the rate. GoldexPay compares these providers next to each other, showing the amount that reaches the recipient before you commit.

Most SWIFT codes in Switzerland: Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft

Of the 697 banks we list for Switzerland, Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft has the most SWIFT codes. Its head office code is RAIFCH22XXX – the code most transfers need.

Banks differ in how many codes they register – a high count is not a measure of size. If not the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code RAIFCH22XXX works for transfers to this bank.

Switzerland and the Swiss Franc

The national currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). A payment in a foreign currency will be converted into CHF on its way to the recipient, and whoever converts it chooses the rate.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives. Often you pay less if you send CHF directly via a provider that converts near the mid-market rate. Exchange rates move during the day, so a quote is usually valid only briefly.

Tracking a payment to Switzerland

How fast a payment reaches Switzerland depends on several factors: the currency, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and time zones. Bank holidays in Switzerland or in the sending country add extra days.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Specialist transfer services often show a status in their app.