Everyday financial tools

Switzerland bank code guide

When to use IID / BC clearing number, what to request from the bank, and how to interpret directory results.

Domestic payments

Use the recipient’s IBAN for the payment and confirm the institution identifier when your payment form requests it.

International payments

Use the recipient bank’s IBAN and any BIC or additional instructions requested for the transfer.

Important distinctions

The Swiss Bank Master lists institutions and payment-system participants, including some outside Switzerland.
Clearing numbers are identifiers, not recipient account numbers. Leading zeros can matter in formatted identifiers.
SIC and euroSIC participation flags do not prove that a particular recipient account can receive your payment.

How to find and confirm the identifier

Ask the recipient to obtain payment instructions from their bank’s official app, statement or website.
Match the country, identifier type and institution. Keep leading zeros and do not substitute a different code type.
For a changed bank or branch, verify the replacement instructions directly with the bank. A similar name is not enough.

Directory coverage

Official SIX Swiss Bank Master snapshot. This lists payment-system institutions, including participants outside Switzerland. Canton, phone and legacy branch IDs are not supplied by this source; they have not been invented.

Saved source date: 2026-11-02. Authority / source reference ↗

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