The Bankleitzahl feature on this website is only applicable to be use in Germany. For Switzerland, kindly browse to Switzerland BC Number website.
Bankleitzahl, BLZ Code, Sort Code is a numerical code used to identify an individual branch of a financial institution in Germany. The number consists of 8 digits, and it is used for domestic bank transfer. Generally, the first 4 digits identify the banking company, and the latter 4 digits are assigned to the branch.
For international inward money transfer, a SWIFT code must be used together with a Bankleitzahl and Account Number. Alternatively, use IBAN account number as Bankleitzahl was part of it.
The format of Bankleitzahl is as follows;
ABBCDDDD
- the first digit (A) identify the clearing area.
- the next 2 digits (BB) identify the bank location (Bankplatz).
- the next 1 digit (C) identifies the banking group (Bankengruppe).
- the last 4 digits (DDDD) identify the branch.
Germany Bank Bankleitzahl, BLZ Code, Sort Code and SWIFT Codes
Clearing Area
The following is the clearing area code which represents the first digit of Bankleitzahl.
| Area Code | Area |
|---|---|
| 1 | Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
| 2 | Bremen, Hamburg, Niedersachsen, Schleswig-Holstein |
| 3 | Nordrhein-Westfalen, Landesteil Rheinland (Regierungsbezirke Düsseldorf, Köln) |
| 4 | Nordrhein-Westfalen, Landesteile Westfalen und Lippe |
| 5 | Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland |
| 6 | Baden-Württemberg |
| 7 | Bayern |
| 8 | Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen |
Banking Group
The following is the banking group code which represents the forth digit of Bankleitzahl.
| Banking Group Code | Area |
|---|---|
| 0 | German Federal Bank branches |
| 1 | Credit institutions, if not included in another group, and German Postbank AG |
| 2 | Banks, not included in another group recorded (formerly regional, local, specialty, home and banking industry for example, HypoVereinsbank) |
| 3 | Credit institutions, if not included in another group (formerly private bankers ) - eg as HypoVereinsbank |
| 4 | Commerzbank and subsidiary institutions (eg comdirect ) |
| 5 | Savings banks and Landesbanken |
| 6 | Cooperatives and cooperative banks (or credit unions ) |
| 7 | German bank and subsidiary institutions |
| 8 | Commerzbank (formerly Dresdner Bank) |
| 9 | People banks (or credit unions ) |