What is the structure of the German bank code?

The bank code numbers all banks involved in payment transactions are numbered according to a generally valid system. The bank code has 8 digits and is usually written in the form xxx xxx xxx xx. Structure: 123 456 78

Clearing area

The first digit of the bank code identifies the clearing area. The following regional numerals apply:

• 1 Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
• 2 Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein
• 3 Rhineland (Government districts Aachen, Düsseldorf, Cologne)
• 4 Westphalia
• 5 Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland
• 6 Baden-Württemberg
• 7 Bavaria
• 8 Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia

Together with the clearing district, the second figure, and the bank location, the third figure of the Bank Code, the location of the respective responsible Landeszentralbank can be determined.

The cities in which the Landeszentralbank is represented with a central office are regarded as banking centres. These cities include Aachen, Berlin, Bielefeld, Bochum, Bonn, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen, Hagen, Hamm, Cologne, Minden, etc.

Network number

The fourth digit of the bank code is the "network number". This refers to the group of institutes. The 0 is reserved for the Deutsche Bundesbank. The other institutes and their network number:

• 1 for post office banks, other credit institutions, unless included in another group
• 2 for regional, local, special, house and branch banks
• 3 for private bankers
• 4 for Commerzbank
• 5 for giro centres and savings banks
• 6 for rural credit cooperatives and their central banks
• 7 for Deutsche Bank
• 8 for Dresdner Bank and the
• 9 for commercial credit cooperatives and their central banks

Subdivision number

The subdivision number (fiveth digit of the bank code) indicates whether the bank is located at the bank's main location. If it is located in a bank location and therefore in the same place where a state central bank is represented with one head office each, then a zero is placed in fifth place of the bank code. The sixth digit of the BLZ is another subdivision number.

The last two digits are the internal branch numbers of the credit institutions, which are mainly used for internal routing of the respective credit institution.