Commerzbank AG SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Commerzbank AG

The short code COBAGB2I and the full code COBAGB2IXXX refer to the same bank: Commerzbank AG, with its head office in London. The code has a single purpose: it makes sure that money from abroad reaches the right bank. In practice you usually see the code on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and on the account details of Commerzbank AG customers.

On this page you can read what the code means, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from Commerzbank AG requires. The SWIFT code alone does not identify an individual account holder; that is what the IBAN or account number .

How to check COBAGB2I before you pay

The safest source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. Check it against COBAGB2I on this page.

Errors in the BIC are annoying rather than disastrous – usually the money comes back, minus fees and time lost. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is more serious, so check that just as carefully.

An automatic check by your bank only tells you that the IBAN is valid – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. More and more banks check the name against the account – do not ignore a mismatch warning. A small test payment can be a sensible step for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

Receiving money from abroad at Commerzbank AG

When you are waiting for a payment from another country, give the sender everything they need in one go. Share your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC COBAGB2IXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Certain sending banks also ask for the bank’s address in London. Check each detail before you share them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below the amount on the sender’s receipt. Correspondent banks can take a fee, Commerzbank AG may charge for incoming payments, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

Choosing between the 7 SWIFT codes of Commerzbank AG

Having 7 codes in 1 locations, Commerzbank AG is one of the banks that use separate codes for branches and departments. The head office code is COBAGB2IXXX.

Usually there is no need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to COBAGB2IXXX reach Commerzbank AG without problems. Branch codes are only needed when the recipient’s bank specifically asks for it, which is more common for corporate accounts and trade services.

When in doubt, check with the recipient which code their bank gave them. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than COBAGB2IXXX when a bank merges or closes offices.

Sending money abroad from Commerzbank AG

When you transfer money abroad from Commerzbank AG, the visible fee is rarely all of what you pay. Besides the transfer fee, banks in between can deduct a fee, and if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a rate below the real market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate, not in the fee: many banks convert using an exchange rate with a margin built in. Check their rate against the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

Money transfer services frequently use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives with different providers. You can always use your account at Commerzbank AG as the source of the money.

COBAGB2I or COBAGB2IXXX – which one to use?

The layout of every SWIFT code is always the same: a bank code of four letters, two for the country and two for the location, sometimes followed by a branch code. Combined, those parts form COBAGB2I, the code most people search for.

Many banks and apps work with both lengths. If yours requires eleven characters, use COBAGB2IXXX; if it wants eight, use COBAGB2I.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without separators. Copying the code is safer than retyping it, because one wrong letter changes the bank.

The British Pound and what conversion costs you

The local currency in United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP). When you pay money in a different currency has to be converted somewhere along the way: by your bank, an intermediary or Commerzbank AG itself. You rarely see a separate charge for that conversion.

Where the conversion happens affects how much arrives. Transferring the money already in GBP often avoids a second conversion at the receiving end.

The rate for GBP fluctuates constantly. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate make a real difference over time.

A note on our data

The codes here are taken from publicly available data that we update regularly. It is possible that a code on this page is out of date. The number of codes on this page reflect what is in our directory and not on information from Commerzbank AG itself.

See the information here as a handy check and rely on the recipient or Commerzbank AG for the final confirmation. GoldexPay is not affiliated with Commerzbank AG, we only compare transfer services. If you notice a mistake, we welcome a message.

SEPA payments and the Commerzbank AG BIC

Because United Kingdom is part of the SEPA zone, a euro payment into Commerzbank AG from within the SEPA area normally only needs an IBAN. Most banking apps no longer ask for the BIC for these payments.

You still need COBAGB2IXXX when sending payments in other currencies or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Some forms still show a field for the BIC out of habit; if so, enter COBAGB2I or COBAGB2IXXX.

Euro payments within SEPA normally land within one business day. As long as no currency is converted, a SEPA transfer tends to be cheap; it is the conversion that costs money.

Tracking a transfer to or from Commerzbank AG

An international transfer usually takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Weekends and public holidays in the sending or receiving country can add extra days, since banks do not process on those days. Compliance checks by one of the banks can also add a delay.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sending bank about the tracking status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Specialist transfer services often provide tracking in their app so you can see where the payment has got.

A delayed transfer has to be investigated by the sending bank on the basis of the transfer details. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Stay wary when a contact unexpectedly wants you to pay into another account or a bank in another country. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine.

Check changed bank details via a separate channel. Watch out for time pressure, unusual wording or a sender address that is slightly off. When a payment has already gone to a fraudster, contact your bank immediately: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud can also work the other way: someone sends too much and asks you to refund the extra. Wait until the money is actually in your account and check with Commerzbank AG if anything seems off.