The SWIFT data center in Switzerland is closely monitored by the police after Russian banks were excluded from the payment system. The SWIFT messaging network is managed from three data centers in Virginia, USA; in Zoeterwoude in the Netherlands; and in Diesenhofen in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland, close to the border with Germany.
Local Swiss police confirm that the data center in Deisenhoven is now being additionally secured for fear of sabotage in retaliation for actions against Russian banks.
The SWIFT (Society for Global Interbank Financial Telecommunication) platform is essential for international payment transactions and is used by 11,000 service providers in 200 countries.
Cross-border payment transactions are facilitated by a so-called SWIFT address, known today as a Business Identifier Code (BIC).
The European Union previously agreed to exclude major Russian banks from SWIFT, the world’s dominant financial messaging system, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This procedure ensures that these banks can carry out their financial transactions around the world quickly and efficiently. Today’s decision is closely coordinated with the European Union’s international partners, such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
