National Bank of Bahrain SWIFT/BIC code

NBOBBHBM – the SWIFT/BIC code of National Bank of Bahrain

The short code NBOBBHBM and the 11-character code NBOBBHBMXXX refer to one and the same institution: National Bank of Bahrain in Manama, Bahrain. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to direct international transfers to the correct institution. In practice you mostly see it on invoices from abroad, in payment forms and in the bank details of National Bank of Bahrain customers.

We wrote this page to help people who receives money at an account at National Bank of Bahrain. The BIC identifies a bank or branch, not a single account.

Verifying the SWIFT code of National Bank of Bahrain

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. Check that code with NBOBBHBM on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

With a wrong code, the transfer might be delayed, bounce back or end up costing more – sometimes after weeks of searching. A mistake in the IBAN or account number is a bigger problem, so check that just as carefully.

A format check in your banking app merely tells you that the code is valid – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. If your bank offers it, a payee name check on the recipient adds extra certainty. For a first payment, some people send a small test amount and wait for confirmation.

Choosing between the 3 SWIFT codes of National Bank of Bahrain

Our directory lists 3 SWIFT/BIC codes for National Bank of Bahrain, spread over 1 locations. Next to the head office code NBOBBHBMXXX, you will find codes for branches, departments or specific services.

Usually you do not need to look up a branch: transfers addressed to NBOBBHBMXXX are routed within National Bank of Bahrain correctly. Branch codes are only needed if the recipient’s bank specifically asks for it.

Unsure which code applies? Check with the recipient. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

Why National Bank of Bahrain has an 8- and an 11-character code

The structure of every SWIFT code never changes: four characters for the institution, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. For National Bank of Bahrain, that core is NBOBBHBM.

The long version adds three more characters that identify a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, the code points to the head office, which is why NBOBBHBMXXX and NBOBBHBM lead to the same place.

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without separators. Look out for O versus 0 and I versus 1.

What a transfer from National Bank of Bahrain abroad really costs

If you send money to another country through National Bank of Bahrain, the visible fee is only part of what you pay. On top of the transfer fee, banks in between may take a cut, and if currencies are converted, the bank usually applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

The real cost is often in the rate: the bank converts using an exchange rate that includes a margin. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites.

Specialised transfer providers often offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients receive with different services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot. You can always keep your account at National Bank of Bahrain, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.

Getting paid from abroad into a National Bank of Bahrain account

Someone abroad who wants to pay you will ask for several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. The basics are: your name, IBAN or account number, NBOBBHBMXXX and, for some countries, your postal address.

You can add the bank name and its city as well, since some forms ask for it. Double-check each detail before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

Money from abroad will not always arrive in full. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank. On invoices, you can agree how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

About this information

The codes on this page are taken from publicly available data that we update regularly. It can happen that a code here is no longer current. Counts and locations are from our own dataset.

See the information here as a helpful check, and let the details from the recipient or National Bank of Bahrain have the final say. GoldexPay is not affiliated with National Bank of Bahrain, we only compare transfer services. Found outdated information? Tell us via our contact form and we will look into it.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Fraudsters regularly send fake invoices containing new bank details. The fact that NBOBBHBM exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is legitimate – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Always confirm changed bank details by phone, using a number you already had. Pressure and requests to keep it quiet are warning signs – a real supplier can wait a day. When money was sent to the wrong account, contact your bank immediately – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Fraud can also target the receiver: someone claims to have sent too much and asks you to refund the extra via a different route. A payment confirmation from the sender proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to National Bank of Bahrain

An international transfer typically needs one to a few business days. Transfers sent late in the day or on weekends and holidays usually go out a business day later. Sometimes a bank asks what the payment is for.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR that banks can use to trace it. Money transfer services usually provide a status in their app showing how far the payment has got.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid should start with their own bank rather than National Bank of Bahrain. On the receiving end, you can look at your statements for a partial amount because fees can reduce the amount.