FAQ

What bank code should I use when transferring money to my account with biw AG?

The bank code is 101 308 00.




How do I transfer EUR to my cash account?

Recipient: Your name
Account number: Your account number (see client card)
Bank code: 101 308 00
Bank: biw AG, Willich
Reference: as applicable




How do I transfer EUR to my cash account from abroad?

Recipient bank: biw AG, Willich
Account holder: Your name
IBAN: Your IBAN
BIC: BIWBDE33
SWIFT: MARKDEF1100
Reference: as applicable




How do I transfer foreign currency to my cash account? (currency is automatically converted to EUR upon transfer)

Recipient: biw AG, Willich
Account: 0096738500
IBAN: DE12 500 800 00 00 967 385 00
Bank code: 500 800 00
SWIFT: DRESDEFF
Bank: Commerzbank AG
Reference: Your account number, your name and your address




How do I transfer foreign currency to my currency account? (same currency)

Recipient: biw AG, Willich
Account: 0096738500
IBAN: DE12 500 800 00 00 967 385 00
Bank code: 500 800 00
SWIFT: DRESDEFF
Bank: Commerzbank AG
Reference: Your foreign currency account number, your name and your address




How do I transfer money from my account?

For security reasons, it is only possible to transfer money from your cash account or foreign currency account to the reference account set up with us. You can make the transfers yourself online. You can of course also give transfer instructions by telephone. To do so, please call our customer hotline on 0800-387 23 31 and have your client identification number and telephone PIN ready.




Why do I have both a cash account and a brokerage account: what is the difference between the two?

Your credit is held in the cash account and your securities in the brokerage account. Whenever you wish to trade with your securities, this is done through the brokerage account. You make and receive transfers through your cash account.




How do I transfer my brokerage account to biw AG?

Simply complete and send us the form "Konto-/Depotübertrag an die biw AG"




What do I do if my cash account/brokerage account is blocked?

Don’t worry. Simply call our customer hotline on 0800-387 2331 31 and have your client identification number and telephone PIN ready. We can unblock your account.




What is the online archive?

The online archive gives you free and direct access to all documents relating to your cash and brokerage accounts. It contains your account statements and the invoices for your securities transactions. These are updated on a daily basis. The benefits:

• access to your documents at all times and from all locations
• no postage charges
• no inconvenient files
• option of downloading your documents as pdf files
• you can print out your documents at any time and as often as you want

Are my deposits with biw AG secure?

The account bank is the biw AG. The biw AG is part of the Einlagensicherungsfonds (Deposit Protection Fund) of the Bundesverband Deutscher Banken (Association of German Banks). You can find out about the current level of deposit protection for each customer here




My address has changed. What do I need to do?

You can update your address online in the log-in protected section under "Information". You can also post us your new address. Please send letters to: ViTrade AG, Postfach 301778, 10747 Berlin.




My name has changed. What do I need to do?

1. I am now married and have changed my name. What do I need to do?

We require either an authenticated copy of the marriage certificate stating the joint name, a certificate confirming the name change or an extract from the Family Register. We also require re-identification using the PostIdent procedure. This can be done using your NEW ID card or passport at any Deutsche Post branch (please load a new PostIdent coupon onto your computer and print it off). Account holders resident abroad should use the form Legitimation für im Ausland lebende Kontoinhaber und Bevollmächtigte. Remember that married persons are entitled to higher tax-free thresholds when submitting your tax exemption application (Freistellungsauftrag). Married couples are entitled to tax exemption for joint capital gains of 1602.00 EUR (incl. a flat-rate professional allowance (Werbungskostenpauschale) of 102.00 EUR) After getting married, each spouse must submit a new tax exemption application to their credit institutions with the personal details and signature of their partner.

2. I have got divorced and have changed my name. What do I need to do?

We require a copy of the divorce certificate stating the new name or another certificate confirming the change of name. We also require re-identification using the PostIdent procedure. This can be done using your NEW ID card or passport at any Deutsche Post branch (please load a new PostIdent coupon onto your computer and print it off). Account holders resident abroad should use the form Legitimation für im Ausland lebende Kontoinhaber und Bevollmächtigte. If you have a tax exemption, this will need to be reduced if the sum covered is above the threshold for single persons or if the total of all your tax exemptions exceeds this threshold. You can download a new tax Freistellungsauftrag here.

3. Can I change my name by telephone/fax/email?

To prevent the abuse of your data, we can only accept name change applications made in writing. These must include the relevant proof (an authenticated certificate of the name change).




What are the different passwords and what is their purpose?

	password	form	modifiable	purpose
	Client ID	7 digits	no	Your client ID together with your log-on password allows you to access your cash account/brokerage account from our website. Together with your telephone PIN, it allows you to use online brokerage.
	Log On-Password	8 - 15 digits and letters	yes	Your Log On-Password together with your client ID allows you to access your cash account/brokerage account from our website.
	Trading-Password	8 - 15 digits and letters	yes	You confirm all securities orders and trades executed through our website with your Trading-Password. Your Trading-Password fulfills the same purpose as conventional TANs.
	Telephone-Pin	5 digits	yes	Your Telephone-PIN together with your client ID allows you to access your cash account/brokerage account through telephone brokerage.

How can I change the Log On- or Trading-Password set by you?

You can change your passwords at any time when you access your cash account/brokerage account online. The change will be valid immediately.




How can I change the Telephone-PIN set by you?

Please call our customer hotline (0800-387 2331). Once you have entered your client ID and Telephone-PIN, you will be able to change your PIN under menu point 8. Please follow the instructions. The change will be valid immediately.




What should I do if I forget my Log On-Passwort or Trading-Passwort?

Please contact our customer hotline (0800-387 2331) and confirm your identity with your client ID and Telephone-PIN. Your customer advisor will deactivate your old password and immediately post you a new one. Please note that you will only be able to place orders by telephone until you receive the new password.




What should I do if I think my Log On- or Trading-Password could be used by third parties?

Please change your password under "cash & brokerage accounts" immediately or, if you do not have Internet access, call our customer hotline immediately (0800-387 2331). Confirm your identity with your Telephone-PIN and have your old password deactivated. We will send you a new password immediately. Please note that you will only be able to place orders by telephone until you receive the new password.




What should I do if I can no longer access my cash account/brokerage account?

Please first check that you have entered your password correctly. If you still cannot access your account, please contact our customer hotline (0800-387 2331). Should one of your passwords have been blocked by us because it was incorrectly entered, please apply for a new one.




How secure is trading with biw AG?

The biw AG has optimal security measures in place to protect your data:

• Account access via the Internet is protected by your client ID (customer number) and your Log On-Password.
• Transactions over the Internet are protected by your Trading-Password.
• Telephone banking is protected by your client ID (customer number) and your Telephone-PIN.

We use the latest technology and meet the latest standards.
This means not only that the biw AG meets the security needs of its customers: it ensures customers can access cash and brokerage accounts as simply and easily as possible - and from any computer anywhere in the world.




What security measures should I take myself for online brokerage?

Please always take good care of your log-in data. Do not keep your log-in data where others may access it and do not carry it around with you. Do not choose passwords which are easy to guess and change them immediately if you suspect they may be abused.




How do I meet my reporting obligations under the Außenwirtschaftsverordnung (German Foreign Trade and Payment regulations - AWV)?

1. Who has a reporting obligation and what must be reported?

Pursuant to Section 26 in conjunction with Section 59 et seq. of the Außenwirtschaftsgesetz (German Foreign Trade and Payment Act - AWG), persons resident on German territory - natural and legal persons ordinarily resident, or based in the Federal Republic of Germany - must disclose payments of over 12 500 euros or the equivalent countervalue which they receive from non-residents or for residents on behalf of non-residents (incoming payments) or make to non-residents or to residents on behalf of non-residents (outgoing payments).

2. Which cross-border transactions are not subject to reporting obligations?

• Export income
• Import payments
• Payments and repayments of loans and deposits, the term of which originally agreed is no more than 12 months.

3. Must I report account to account transfers?

Account-to-account transfers (from German accounts to foreign accounts or vice versa) are not subject to reporting obligations pursuant to Sections 59 et seq. AWV. You should note that payments which are made from a German account to non-residents or received in non-residents' foreign accounts must be reported using the Z4 form in accordance with the underlying transaction.

4. Which forms are to be used?

Forms Z1 and Z4 are to be used. Both forms can be used by private individuals, businesses, financial institutions and public bodies.

5. How can I submit the forms?

On paper (reporting form Z 1 - red sheet, Z 4):
The complete form is to be sent in a stamped envelope to the following address:

Deutsche Bundesbank
Servicezentrum Außenwirtschaftsstatistik
55148 Mainz

6. Where can I obtain the forms?

Form Z 1 is available from retail businesses. Form Z 4 is available free of charge to download from the Internet site of the Servicezentrum Außenwirtschaftsstatistik, 55148 Mainz.

7. Where can I find further information?

Further information is available from the Deutsche Bundesbank in the form of FAQ zu grenzüberschreitenden Transaktionsmeldungen (FAQ on cross-border transaction reporting) on its homepage.