Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch SWIFT/BIC code

SGABCHZZ – the SWIFT/BIC code of Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch

SGABCHZZ and SGABCHZZXXX are two spellings of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both lead to Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch in Zurich. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank should receive the money, a bit like a postal address for banks. In practice you usually see it on international invoices, in payment forms and on the account details of Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch customers.

Below you will find the practical side: receiving money at Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch, sending money abroad and how to verify a SWIFT code before you hit send. A SWIFT code names a bank or branch, never a specific account.

The Swiss Franc and what conversion costs you

The national currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). Money sent in a different currency will be exchanged into CHF before it reaches the account, and whoever converts it chooses the rate. There is rarely a separate charge for that conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Who converts the payment matters, because each party uses its own rate. In many cases you pay less to send CHF straight away via a transfer service that converts near the mid-market rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

The rate for CHF fluctuates constantly. On larger amounts, a small gap in the rate adds up quickly.

Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch: head office code versus branch codes

Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch has 9 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 2 cities. Only one is the head office code; the rest belong to branches.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code SGABCHZZXXX is the right choice. When you receive a specific code, use it as it is rather than replacing it for the head office code.

Not sure which code to use? Ask the recipient. Branch codes are more prone to be retired than SGABCHZZXXX.

Paying someone abroad from your Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch account

A bank transfer abroad costs more than the listed fee. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks can deduct a fee, and if the money changes currency the bank usually applies a rate below the actual market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: many banks convert at a rate that includes a margin. An easy check: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of currency pairs, a specialist provider turns out to be less expensive than a bank. On GoldexPay we compare what recipients receive across services. Choosing a specialist does not require closing your account at Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch: you simply pay the service from your account.

When will the money arrive at Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch?

There is no single delivery time for every transfer: many arrive the same day or the next while others need several business days. Payments made after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays often start a business day later. Occasionally a bank asks what the payment is for, which can hold things up.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Each payment carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms – you will need it for any trace request.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the person who paid needs to start with their own bank. As a recipient, you can look at your statements for a slightly lower amount because fees can reduce the amount.

How up to date is this code?

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is based on public sources and is updated regularly. Even so, banks merge or change codes, so information can be out of date. Counts and locations come from our directory and may differ from what Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch publishes.

Use our data as a starting point, not as the final word – the bank details from the recipient are leading. We are an independent comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch. Should you notice something that is out of date, we appreciate a short note via the contact page.

How to check SGABCHZZ before you pay

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. When the code you were given does not match SGABCHZZ or SGABCHZZXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch.

With a wrong code, the transfer might get stuck, bounce back or end up costing more, and tracing it can take weeks. An error in the account number is a bigger problem because it can reach the wrong person; check it just as carefully.

Many banking apps validate the format of an IBAN – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a name check on the recipient adds extra certainty. A small test payment is worth it for large sums, even if it costs an extra fee.

What to give a sender who pays you at Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details from you, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. Give them the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, SWIFT code SGABCHZZXXX and your address.

Some banks also ask for the name and address of Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch, so keep it at hand. Check every detail before you send them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee, Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. For business payments, you can agree who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

8 or 11 characters: SGABCHZZ versus SGABCHZZXXX

Every SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. For Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch, the 8-character core is SGABCHZZ.

XXX at the end of SGABCHZZXXX does not stand for a missing value or an error: it indicates the main office of Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch. Certain payment forms insist on 11 characters, in which case you simply enter XXX behind SGABCHZZ.

As a rule the code is written in capitals. A wrong letter can send the money to a different institution, so check it twice.

Paying Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch in euros within SEPA

Because Switzerland is in SEPA, a euro transfer to Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch from another SEPA country normally requires just an IBAN. Most banking apps no longer ask for the BIC in that case.

You will still need SGABCHZZXXX for non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. If your banking app asks for the BIC anyway, entering SGABCHZZ is fine.

Instant euro transfers have become widely available across SEPA – whether Societe Generale, Paris, Zurich Branch offers them for your account is worth checking. As long as no currency is converted, the transfer tends to be inexpensive; costs rise once a conversion is involved.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Stay alert if someone suddenly wants you to send money to another account abroad. The fact that SGABCHZZ exists is no guarantee that the account is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Before paying, confirm changed bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Urgency and secrecy tend to be red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. If a payment has already gone to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately.

Scams can also work the other way: someone sends too much and wants you to refund the extra via a different route. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.