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Akif Hazarvi

Switzerland IBAN

CH·CHF·SEPA

The International Bank Account Number (IBAN) for Switzerland is 21 characters long and is used to identify bank accounts for international transactions, within the SEPA network for euro transfers and via SWIFT for non-euro currencies.

A Switzerland IBAN begins with the country code CH and two check digits, followed by the 17-character BBAN (Basic Bank Account Number). The Switzerland BBAN encodes a 5-character bank code, followed by a 12-character account number. As a SEPA member, Switzerland supports low-cost euro transfers across 36+ European countries using the CHF currency. Always include the full 21-character IBAN together with the bank's BIC/SWIFT code when making or receiving international payments.

IBAN Length

21 chars

Currency

CHF

SEPA

Yes

Banks

6+

Example IBAN

Electronic format

CH9300762011623852957

Print format

CH93 0076 2011 6238 5295 7

IBAN structure for Switzerland

A Switzerland IBAN is 21 characters long and consists of the following components:

Country code

CH

Check digits

93

Bank code

5 chars

Account number

12 chars

Total length21 characters

BBAN format details

The Basic Bank Account Number (BBAN) is the domestic part of the IBAN, following the country code and check digits. Here is the BBAN validation format for Switzerland:

Bank code5 characters

^[0-9]{5}

Account number12 characters

^[a-zA-Z0-9]{12}

Major banks in Switzerland

6 banks in Switzerland that support IBAN-based international transfers:

C

Credit Suisse Ag

S

Swiss Post - Postfinance

M

Migros Bank

S

Swissquote Bank

B

Banque Cantonale Vaudoise

Z

Zürcher Kantonalbank

Understanding IBAN in Switzerland

What is the IBAN format in Switzerland

An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is an internationally-agreed code made up of up to 34 letters and numbers that helps banks make sure that international transfers are processed correctly. Each set of characters represents a different detail for your bank account. You can see the breakdown of this IBAN below.

What is the IBAN code in Switzerland

IBAN in Switzerland consists of 21 characters: 2 letter country code 2 digit check number 5 characters from the bank's bank code 12 digit code for the bank account number

Do you need an IBAN in Switzerland

Yes. If you’re making – or expecting to receive – an international money transfer to a bank account in Switzerland, then just a standard bank account number isn’t enough. If you want your money to arrive quickly and safely, you’ll usually need to give the bank a few extra details, such as an IBAN or SWIFT code. Banks assign IBANs to each of their accounts to make sure that international transfers are processed correctly. IBANs contain all of the country, bank, and account details you need to send or receive money internationally. This system is used throughout Europe, and also recognised in some areas of the Middle East, North Africa and the Caribbean.

Frequently asked questions

What is the IBAN format for Switzerland?

A Swiss IBAN is exactly 21 characters long. It starts with CH, 2 check digits, a 5-digit bank clearing number, and a 12-digit account number. Example: CH93 0076 2011 6238 5295 7.

How do I find my IBAN in Switzerland?

Your CH IBAN is displayed in your bank's e-banking or mobile app. UBS, Credit Suisse (now part of UBS), Raiffeisen Switzerland, PostFinance, and the cantonal banks (Kantonalbanken) all show the 21-character IBAN on the account overview. It also appears on bank statements and QR-bills.

Is Switzerland part of SEPA?

Partially. Switzerland is not an EU member but participates in SEPA for euro-denominated transfers. EUR SEPA payments to a Swiss IBAN generally benefit from SEPA pricing. However, CHF transfers are processed through the Swiss SIC (Swiss Interbank Clearing) system and are not part of SEPA. For incoming CHF from abroad, SWIFT is used.

What is the difference between SEPA EUR and SWIFT CHF transfers to Switzerland?

EUR transfers from SEPA countries to your Swiss IBAN are routed through the SEPA network at low cost. CHF transfers from abroad go through SWIFT and may incur higher correspondent banking fees. Always confirm with the sender whether they are sending EUR (cheaper via SEPA) or CHF (routed via SWIFT).

Do I need a BIC code for transfers to Switzerland?

For SEPA EUR transfers from EU/EEA countries, only the CH IBAN is typically sufficient. For CHF transfers from abroad or any non-SEPA transfer, the sender needs both the IBAN and your bank's SWIFT/BIC code. UBS's SWIFT code is UBSWCHZH80A; Raiffeisen Switzerland's is RAIFCH22; PostFinance's is POFICHBEXXX.

What are QR-bills and how do they use the Swiss IBAN?

Swiss QR-bills replaced the old payment slips (Einzahlungsschein) and embed the creditor's IBAN directly in the QR code. When you scan a QR-bill with your banking app, the IBAN and payment details are populated automatically. For receiving payments, your IBAN appears on your QR-bills.

What are common mistakes when sharing a Swiss IBAN?

Common mistakes include: confusing the 5-digit clearing number with the SWIFT code, providing the old postal account number (Postkonto) instead of the IBAN, and sending EUR to a CHF account or vice versa (which triggers conversion). Always specify the currency and verify the 21-character IBAN before sharing.

How IBAN is used in Switzerland

Switzerland uses a 21-character IBAN and occupies a unique position in the European payments landscape. While Switzerland is not an EU member, it participates in SEPA for euro-denominated transfers, though domestic CHF payments run through the Swiss SIC (Swiss Interbank Clearing) system managed by SIX Group rather than SEPA. This dual setup means your Swiss IBAN works for both CHF domestic payments and incoming euro transfers from the SEPA zone. Switzerland's banking sector is globally significant, with UBS and other institutions managing trillions in assets.

A Swiss IBAN starts with CH, two check digits, a five-digit bank clearing number (BC-Nummer), and a twelve-digit account number. Example: CH93 0076 2011 6238 5295 7, where 00762 is the clearing number for Credit Suisse. Major clearing ranges: UBS (00200-00299), Credit Suisse/UBS merged (00400-00499), PostFinance (09000), Raiffeisen (80000-89999), cantonal banks (various).
For receiving euro from EU/EEA countries, your Swiss IBAN is accepted within the SEPA network, and these transfers benefit from SEPA pricing (typically €0-1 fee). However, for CHF transfers from abroad, the payment is routed through SWIFT and may incur correspondent banking fees of CHF 10-30. Always confirm with the sender whether they are sending in EUR or CHF — this determines the routing and fees.
Swiss QR-bills (QR-Rechnung), which fully replaced the old ESR/BVR payment slips in October 2022, embed the creditor's IBAN directly in the QR code. Your banking app reads the QR code and populates the IBAN automatically. For business payments, the QR-IBAN (starting with CH followed by a special QR-IID) is used — this is different from your regular IBAN.
Switzerland has 24 cantonal banks (Kantonalbanken), one for each canton, plus UBS, Raiffeisen, and PostFinance as national players. Each cantonal bank has a state guarantee (Staatsgarantie) in most cantons. If you're opening a Swiss account, the cantonal bank of your residence canton often offers the best conditions for everyday banking.
Finding your IBAN: check your bank's e-banking portal (UBS: ubs.com, PostFinance: postfinance.ch, Raiffeisen: raiffeisen.ch), your Kontoauszug, or the IBAN calculator on SIX Group's website. Your IBAN is also embedded in the QR code on any QR-bill you receive. For Liechtenstein (LI IBAN), the same 21-character format applies but with the LI prefix.