SWIFT/BIC codes in Bahrain

Bank SWIFT codes for Bahrain

Our directory covers 106 banks and financial institutions in Bahrain. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain which institution is meant to get an international payment.

Choose a bank below to view the head office code and its other codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Below the list we explain how codes from Bahrain are built, how to send money to Bahrain without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

Which bank in Bahrain has the most codes?

Bbk tops our list of Bahrain banks when it comes to SWIFT/BIC codes. The head office of Bbk uses BBKUBHBMXXX.

Many codes often reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services. Paying someone at Bbk? Use BBKUBHBMXXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

Receiving money in Bahrain from abroad

If you are waiting for money from abroad on an account in Bahrain, give the sender all details at once. That means: your full name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and usually your address.

Look up your bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Certain banks may also want your bank’s address.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

How SWIFT codes from Bahrain are built

Every SWIFT/BIC code has eight or eleven characters, always in the same order. First comes four letters for the bank, followed by two letters for the country and two characters for the location.

Whatever the bank, all Bahrain codes share the same fifth and sixth letters. Codes with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

When a code ends in XXX, it refers to the head office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. Choose a branch code only if the recipient’s bank asks for it.

Bank or transfer service for Bahrain?

An international bank payment to Bahrain can cost more than the fee suggests. There is a transfer fee, sometimes charges from intermediary banks and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate when currencies differ.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the biggest part of the cost because it is hidden in the rate. Check the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites. The difference is your real cost.

Specialist money transfer services often offer rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in Bahrain across services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

Check the code before you pay

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a statement or their online banking. If the code you have differs from the code listed here, stop and ask.

We collect bank codes using publicly available data and update our list regularly. Institutions reorganise, change names and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use our data as a starting point rather than the last word: the bank details from the recipient come first. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers, not a bank.

Fraudsters regularly use fake invoices carrying new bank details from what looks like a familiar address. Always verify changed details by phone on a number you know.

Tracking a payment to Bahrain

How quickly money arrives in Bahrain is determined by a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day.

If a transfer seems delayed, the sender should contact their own bank; only the sending side can start an official trace. Money transfer services often show a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

Why a transfer to Bahrain needs a SWIFT code

Because Bahrain does not belong to SEPA, a transfer from abroad normally goes as a SWIFT payment. This means the payment always needs the SWIFT/BIC code of the receiving bank in addition to the account details.

In some countries, the account is identified by a domestic account number rather than an IBAN. The receiving bank usually provides a list of required details for payments from abroad. On the way to Bahrain, a payment may pass through correspondent banks.