Bank Code Search

Find any German bank - simply enter an IBAN or search by BLZ, BIC or bank name

Bank Search

Search by IBAN, bank code, bank name, city or BIC - the bank is detected automatically

Enter an IBAN, bank code, bank name, city or BIC.
🔒

The search runs locally in your browser. Your search queries are never transmitted to any server.

🏦

Note: Bank data contains only the headquarters of each bank, not branch offices. Searching for a city will only return banks headquartered there.

What is a German bank code (BLZ)?

The Bankleitzahl (BLZ) is an eight-digit code used in Germany to uniquely identify credit institutions. It was introduced in 1970 by the Deutsche Bundesbank and today forms an integral part of every German IBAN. The BLZ enables the precise routing of transfers to the correct institution and branch.

When IBAN was rolled out in 2014, the BLZ was not replaced but integrated: positions 5-12 of a German IBAN contain the full bank code. This means the BLZ remains the central identifier of German banks even in modern SEPA payments.

Structure of the bank code

The eight-digit BLZ follows a systematic structure that encodes both geographic and institutional information:

  • 1-3 Clearing regionThe first three digits identify the regional clearing area. Germany is divided into nine regions (1-9): 1 for Berlin, 2 for Bremen/Hamburg, 3 for Düsseldorf, 4 for Bielefeld, 5 for Frankfurt, 6 for Stuttgart, 7 for Munich, 8 for Nuremberg and 9 for Saarbrücken.
  • 4 Bank groupThe fourth digit indicates the type of institution. 0 stands for Bundesbank, 1-3 for commercial banks, 4 for Commerzbank, 5 for savings banks (Sparkassen), 6-9 for cooperative banks (Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken).
  • 5-8 Institution numberThe last four digits identify the specific institution or branch within the bank group and clearing region.

BLZ inside the IBAN

In a German IBAN the BLZ is always in the same place: positions 5 to 12 (after country code and check digits). For an IBAN such as DE89 37040044 0532013000, "37040044" is the BLZ of Commerzbank Cologne. "370" indicates the Düsseldorf/Cologne clearing region, and "4" marks a commercial bank.

History of the bank code

Before 1970 every bank used its own account number format, which made payments cumbersome. The introduction of a uniform BLZ system by the Bundesbank fundamentally standardized domestic payments. Originally the bank code was written by hand on transfer slips - today it is embedded in the IBAN and processed automatically.

The Deutsche Bundesbank updates the BLZ directory quarterly. Changes occur due to bank mergers, new registrations or branch closures. Our tool uses the latest Bundesbank data to give you accurate information at all times.

🏦

Bundesbank Data

Our database is based on the official bank codes issued by the Deutsche Bundesbank and is updated regularly.

The German banking system

Germany has one of the densest banking networks in Europe. The "three-pillar model" has shaped the structure of German banking for more than 100 years.

Savings banks (Sparkassen)

The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe is the largest banking group in Germany. Sparkassen are public-law institutions anchored regionally. Their BLZ typically has a 5 in the fourth digit (e.g. 37050198 for Sparkasse KölnBonn). With over 350 savings banks and more than 10,000 branches they provide nationwide coverage.

Cooperative banks

Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken form the cooperative pillar. They are owned by their members and also organized regionally. The fourth digit of their BLZ is usually between 6 and 9. With over 800 institutions and around 8,000 branches they are the second-largest banking group by branch count.

Private banks

Large banks such as Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and HypoVereinsbank as well as many private banks make up the third pillar. Their BLZ usually has 1-4 in the fourth digit. These institutions operate nationwide and internationally. Direct banks like ING, DKB or comdirect also belong to this group.

Regional clearing areas

The first digit of the bank code reveals the clearing region. Germany is divided into nine regions that historically corresponded to the regional central banks (Landeszentralbanken).

1 Berlin & Brandenburg BLZ 10xxxxxx
2 Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein BLZ 20xxxxxx
3 Düsseldorf & Northern Rhineland BLZ 30xxxxxx
4 Bielefeld & Westphalia BLZ 40xxxxxx
5 Frankfurt & Hesse BLZ 50xxxxxx
6 Stuttgart & Baden-Württemberg BLZ 60xxxxxx
7 Munich & Southern Bavaria BLZ 70xxxxxx
8 Nuremberg & Northern Bavaria BLZ 80xxxxxx
9 Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia, Saxony BLZ 86xxxxxx

Frequently asked questions about bank search

Answers to the most common questions about bank codes and our search tool.

How do I find the bank for an IBAN?

Simply enter the complete IBAN in our search field - e.g. "DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00". The bank search automatically extracts the bank code (positions 5-12) and shows you the matching bank with full address and BIC. This IBAN-to-bank lookup works instantly for all German IBANs and requires no registration.

How many banks are there in Germany?

Germany has around 1,500 credit institutions with more than 16,000 bank codes in total. The number of BLZ exceeds the number of banks because many institutions use multiple codes for different branches or business units.

Why does my bank have several BLZ?

Large banks such as Deutsche Bank or Commerzbank use different bank codes for different regions and branches. This is used for internal organization and regional clearing. Every BLZ of your bank leads to your account - you can find the correct one on your bank card or in online banking.

Do I still need the BLZ today?

For SEPA transfers you only need the IBAN - the BLZ is embedded in it. However, the BLZ is still used for some services such as PayPal verification or phone banking. When setting up accounts in apps the BLZ may also be required.

What is the difference between BLZ and BIC?

The BLZ is a German identifier of 8 digits used only in Germany. The BIC (Bank Identifier Code) is an international code of 8-11 characters that works worldwide. Both identify banks, but the BIC was designed for international transfers.

Is the bank data updated?

Yes, our database is based on the official BLZ directory of the Deutsche Bundesbank. It is updated quarterly (March, June, September, December). Changes due to mergers or new institutions are incorporated promptly.

Can I also search by BIC?

Our bank search scans all fields - you can search by BLZ, bank name, city or BIC. For a dedicated BIC search with validation, use our BIC/SWIFT search.

Are my searches secure?

Absolutely. The entire search runs locally in your browser. Bank data is loaded once, then all searches are processed offline. We do not store search queries and never send data to a server.

Tips for working with bank codes

Practical advice for handling the BLZ in everyday use.

1

BLZ on your bank card

Your personal BLZ is printed on your debit card (Girocard) - usually below the IBAN. On older cards it appears separately next to the account number. The BLZ on your card is always the correct one for your account.

2

Extract the BLZ from an IBAN

In a German IBAN, digits 5-12 are the bank code. From DE89370400440532013000 you get BLZ 37040044. This lets you read the bank code directly out of the IBAN.

3

Regional mapping

The first digit of the BLZ reveals the region: 1=Berlin, 2=Hamburg/Bremen, 3=Düsseldorf, 4=Bielefeld, 5=Frankfurt, 6=Stuttgart, 7=Munich, 8=Nuremberg. This lets you quickly see where a bank is based.

4

Identify the bank type

The fourth digit shows the type of bank: 0=Bundesbank, 1-3=private banks, 4=Commerzbank, 5=Sparkassen, 6-9=cooperative banks. BLZ 37050198, for example, belongs to a savings bank (5) in the Düsseldorf region (3).

Validate or generate an IBAN

Found the bank code? Use our IBAN validator to check it or the generator to calculate your IBAN.

Validate IBAN Generate IBAN BIC Search