Tell AG SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Tell AG

Whether you are given SWHCCHB1 or SWHCCHB1XXX, it is the same address for Tell AG in Switzerland. A SWIFT code tells the banks handling a payment exactly which bank is meant to get the money. You will need it mainly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

On this page you can read what the code is put together, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from Tell AG requires. Keep in mind that the SWIFT code only identifies the bank, not the person: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

Before you send: check the Tell AG code

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. When the code you were given does not match SWHCCHB1 or SWHCCHB1XXX, do not guess.

A wrong SWIFT code may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or additional charges for investigation. Remember the IBAN: a mistake there is harder to undo than a wrong BIC.

A validity check by your bank only tells you that the IBAN exists, not that it is the right account. Some banks now check the name with the account before you confirm. A small test payment can be worth it for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

A note on our data

The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources and we update it periodically. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes, so information can be out of date. Counts and locations are from our own dataset and are not confirmed by Tell AG.

See our directory here as a handy check. GoldexPay is a comparison service and not part of Tell AG. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message.

Do you need SWHCCHB1 for a SEPA transfer?

Switzerland belongs to the SEPA area. For a regular euro transfer within SEPA, you normally only need the IBAN.

The BIC still come into play when the currency is not euros, and for transfers from outside SEPA. Some forms also ask for the BIC; in that case, enter SWHCCHB1 or SWHCCHB1XXX.

SEPA transfers usually arrive by the next business day. Provided the payment stays in euros, the transfer tends to be cheap.

Sending money abroad from Tell AG

The price of a payment abroad is made up of several parts, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between can deduct a fee, and when currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

That exchange rate margin is often the biggest cost. Compare their rate against the mid-market rate.

Specialist money transfer services frequently use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. Next time you send money, take a minute comparing the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Tell AG.

Which of the 2 codes of Tell AG do you need?

Tell AG has 2 different SWIFT/BIC codes across 1 cities. One of them is the head office code, SWHCCHB1XXX; the rest identify branches or departments, and sometimes internal departments.

Usually you do not need to look up a branch: payments addressed to SWHCCHB1XXX reach Tell AG without problems. Just use a branch code when the recipient explicitly asks for it, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

If you are not sure, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Branch codes can change when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Incoming international payments to Tell AG

A sender in another country will ask for several details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. That means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your account number or IBAN, the BIC SWHCCHB1XXX (or SWHCCHB1) and usually your postal address.

Some banks want the address of Tell AG in Zurich; it does no harm to include it. A mistake in your account number is harder to fix than you might think, so copy the details from your online banking.

Money from abroad does not always arrive in full. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, Tell AG may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, an exchange rate margin comes on top. On invoices, you can state how the fees are split, so that nobody is left short.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

A common scam goes like this: you receive a request saying that a contact has new bank details and that the next payment should go there. The fact that SWHCCHB1 exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Verify changed bank details through a different channel, such as a phone number you already know. Urgency and secrecy tend to be red flags. When money has already gone to the wrong account, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams also target the receiver. Someone sends more than agreed and asks you to return the difference. A screenshot of a transfer is no proof – check your own account.

SWHCCHB1 or SWHCCHB1XXX – which one to use?

A BIC is made up of a few fixed parts: characters one to four stand for the bank, characters five and six give the country and the two after that mark the location. Combined, those parts make up SWHCCHB1, the code most people search for.

Most payment forms work with both lengths. If yours requires eleven characters, enter SWHCCHB1XXX, otherwise SWHCCHB1 is fine.

Leave out spaces or dashes when you type SWHCCHB1; the code is always written in one block. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 and the letter I and the digit 1, a common source of typos.

Sending CHF to Tell AG

The national currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). Money sent in a different currency will be converted into CHF. You rarely see a separate charge for the conversion – the cost sits in the rate.

Who does the conversion affects the final amount, since every bank sets its own rate. Sending the money directly in CHF often prevents an extra conversion.

The rate for CHF fluctuates throughout the day and quotes are often valid only for a short time. On larger amounts, even seemingly small gap in the rate can be worth more than the fee.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Tell AG

There is no single answer for every transfer: some land the same day or the next while others need several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every payment carries a unique reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Money transfer services often provide a status in their app showing where the money is.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the person who paid should start with their own bank. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation – it helps your own bank look for the money.