Sending business payments from the US to Germany
A US company pays a German supplier, contractor or subsidiary most simply in euros to its IBAN as a SEPA transfer, or by SWIFT wire in euros or dollars. You need the legal name exactly as on the account and the 22-character IBAN, which contains the bank's 8-digit Bankleitzahl.
- A German IBAN has 22 characters: DE, two check digits, the 8-digit bank code (Bankleitzahl) and a 10-digit account number.
- The German government imposes no controls on the purchase or sale of foreign currencies, according to the International Trade Administration.
- German residents must report to the Bundesbank payments of more than €50,000 received from non-residents, but payments for goods exported or imported are exempt.
- Euro area banks must be able to receive instant euro payments since 9 January 2025 and offer verification of payee since 9 October 2025.
- Helm pays euros by SEPA, with the rate shown before you confirm.
Details to collect from a supplier in Germany
Germany uses the IBAN for every account. Swift's IBAN Registry lists the German IBAN at 22 characters: DE, two check digits, the 8-digit bank code known as the Bankleitzahl, and the account number; its example is DE89370400440532013000. The SWIFT code (BIC) identifies the bank for wires sent from outside the EU. Since 9 October 2025, euro area banks must offer payers verification of payee, a check of the name against the IBAN before a euro transfer is sent.
| Detail | Format | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| IBAN | 22 characters starting DE; 8-digit Bankleitzahl after the check digits | Identifies bank and account |
| Beneficiary name | Legal name exactly as registered with the bank | Checked by verification of payee on euro transfers |
| Bank SWIFT/BIC | 8 or 11 characters | Needed for SWIFT wires |
| Company form | For example GmbH or AG, as part of the legal name | Part of the name the bank checks |
| Reference | Invoice number | Lets the supplier match the payment |
Sources: Swift IBAN Registry, Release 103 (September 2026); European Central Bank. As published on 29 October 2026.
Check the BIC against the bank name with our SWIFT code lookup before a first SWIFT payment.
Pay in euros or in US dollars?
The International Trade Administration states that the German government imposes no controls on the purchase or sale of foreign currencies. A German supplier may invoice in euros or dollars. A euro invoice paid by SEPA arrives in euros with no conversion at the German bank; dollars sent to a euro account are converted by the German bank at its own rate.
| Point | Position in Germany |
|---|---|
| Exchange controls | None on buying or selling foreign currencies |
| Usual operating currency | Euro |
| Reporting of receipts from abroad | Residents report payments over €50,000 to the Bundesbank; goods trade exempt |
Sources: International Trade Administration, Germany; Deutsche Bundesbank, AWV payment reporting FAQ. As published on 29 October 2026.
For euro values, see the USD to EUR currency page.
Rails and arrival times
For a SWIFT wire the correspondent chain is usually short: the International Trade Administration lists Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Citigroup, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and State Street among the US banks with offices in Frankfurt.
A euro payment to Germany is most simply a SEPA payout: the provider converts dollars to euros and credits the supplier's IBAN as a SEPA credit transfer, the standard euro bank transfer. The Instant Payments Regulation has required euro area banks to be able to receive instant euro credit transfers since 9 January 2025, according to the European Central Bank.
Dollars, or euros you prefer to send from the US banking system, go by SWIFT wire to the same IBAN. Swift reports that almost 100% of gpi payments are credited within 24 hours.
| Route | Currency | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Euro payout by SEPA | EUR | German banks receive instant euro payments since 9 January 2025 |
| SWIFT wire | EUR or USD | Almost 100% of gpi payments within 24 hours |
Sources: European Central Bank, Instant Payments Regulation; Swift gpi. As published on 29 October 2026.
Documents, reporting and checks
Germany's balance of payments reporting falls on the German recipient, not on you. Under section 11 of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act and sections 67 onward of the Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance (AWV), German residents must report to the Bundesbank payments of more than €50,000 that they receive from non-residents. Payments for goods physically exported from or imported into Germany are exempt. So a German service provider, licensor or subsidiary paid more than €50,000 will report your payment, and a clear reference stating what it pays for helps it classify the report.
A German subsidiary of a US group receiving intercompany payments for services or loans should expect the same reporting duty.
On the US side, every payment to a German company must pass sanctions screening: OFAC states that all US persons, including all US incorporated entities and their foreign branches, must comply with US sanctions, so the payer, the recipient and the recipient's bank are checked before the money moves.
Costs: Helm fees, intermediary deductions, SHA and OUR
German banks publish their own charges for receiving payments from outside the EU; ask the supplier what its bank deducts. A SEPA payout avoids correspondent banks altogether, and for transfers within the EU PSD2 Article 62 has each party pay its own provider. On a SWIFT wire you choose: OUR to pay every charge yourself, or SHA to let intermediaries deduct theirs; our guide to OUR, SHA and BEN charges compares them. Helm does not open accounts for businesses registered in the UK or the EEA; this page is for US companies paying them. Helm international payments show the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm, and the account manager confirms the route for each corridor.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
Why payments to Germany are delayed or returned
| Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|
| IBAN not 22 characters, or a digit transposed | Copy the IBAN from the invoice and check its length |
| Name does not match the account (verification of payee no match) | Use the full legal name including GmbH or AG |
| Dollars sent to a euro account | Pay euros, or ask for a USD account |
| SHA deductions on a SWIFT wire | Pay euros by SEPA, or send OUR |
| Unclear purpose on a large service payment | State the service and invoice number |
Sources: European Central Bank; Swift IBAN Registry; Helm Editorial Team. As published on 29 October 2026.
Checklist before you send
- Collect the legal name with its company form, the IBAN and the BIC.
- Agree EUR or USD on the purchase order.
- Pay euros by SEPA where your provider offers it.
- State what the payment is for, since service payments over €50,000 are reported by the recipient.
- Quote the invoice number in the reference.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
What details do I need to pay a German company?
The legal name exactly as on the account, including GmbH or AG, the 22-character IBAN and, for SWIFT wires, the bank's BIC.
Should I pay a German supplier in euros or dollars?
Pay in the invoice currency. A euro invoice paid by SEPA arrives in euros with no conversion; dollars sent to a euro account are converted by the German bank.
Does my German supplier have to report my payment?
Only in some cases. German residents report payments over €50,000 received from non-residents to the Bundesbank, but payments for goods exports and imports are exempt.
What is a Bankleitzahl?
The Bankleitzahl is Germany's 8-digit bank code. In a German IBAN it follows DE and the two check digits.
How long does a payment to Germany take?
Euro area banks must be able to receive instant euro payments since January 2025. On SWIFT, almost 100% of gpi payments are credited within 24 hours.
References
- International Trade Administration: Germany Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing
- Swift: IBAN Registry, Release 103 (September 2026)
- European Central Bank: Instant Payments Regulation
- Directive (EU) 2015/2366 (PSD2), Article 62: Charges applicable
- Deutsche Bundesbank: FAQ zu grenzüberschreitenden Zahlungsmeldungen (AWV)
- Swift: Fast, transparent and trackable payments (gpi)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC: Who must comply with OFAC sanctions? (FAQ 11)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.