Standard Chartered Bank SWIFT/BIC code

SCBLBHBM – the SWIFT/BIC code of Standard Chartered Bank

The short code SCBLBHBM and the 11-character code SCBLBHBMXXX refer to the same bank: Standard Chartered Bank, with its head office in Manama. Every bank on the SWIFT network uses BIC codes to route international transfers to the correct bank. You will need it mainly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

On this page you can read how the code means, when you need it and what else a transfer to or from Standard Chartered Bank requires. Keep in mind that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the account: the account number or IBAN takes care of that.

A note on our data

We gather bank codes using publicly available data and update them regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes, so information can be out of date. Counts and locations are from our own dataset.

See the information here as a handy check and rely on the recipient or Standard Chartered Bank for the final confirmation. GoldexPay is independent of Standard Chartered Bank, we only compare transfer services. Should you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a message via the contact page.

International transfers from Standard Chartered Bank: the real cost

What you pay for a payment abroad is made up of more than one component – not just the fee on your screen. There is the transfer fee, sometimes charges from correspondent banks in between and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the currency changes.

The markup on the rate is often the largest cost because it is hidden in the rate. Check their rate with the mid-market rate.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service is less expensive than a bank, mainly because of the exchange rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients receive with different services. You can always keep your account at Standard Chartered Bank; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Is SCBLBHBM still correct? How to check

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself. If the code you have differs from SCBLBHBM or SCBLBHBMXXX, stop and ask: check with the recipient or with Standard Chartered Bank directly.

Errors in the BIC are annoying rather than disastrous: often the payment comes back, minus fees. Remember the IBAN: an error there is harder to undo than a wrong code.

An automatic check in your banking app only confirms that the code is valid, not that it is the right account. More and more banks check the payee name against the account; take any warning seriously. Sending a small amount first can be a sensible step for large sums despite the extra fee.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Criminals often use payment requests containing new bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. A valid SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine.

Verify new bank details via a separate channel, never via the email that asked for the change. Urgency or secrecy are red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. Acted too fast? Contact the bank you paid from without delay and ask them to try to recall the payment.

Fraud also work the other way. Someone claims to have sent too much and wants you to return the difference to a new account. Do not act before the money has really arrived and check with Standard Chartered Bank if anything seems off.

SCBLBHBM or SCBLBHBMXXX – which one to use?

Each SWIFT/BIC code has the same eight core characters: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and a two-character location code. Combined, those parts form SCBLBHBM, the code most people search for.

XXX at the end of SCBLBHBMXXX does not stand for a missing value or a mistake: it indicates the head office of Standard Chartered Bank. Some forms insist on 11 characters, in which case you simply add XXX after SCBLBHBM.

Type the code in one piece, in capitals and without spaces. A wrong letter may route the money to another bank.

Which of the 2 codes of Standard Chartered Bank do you need?

Our directory lists 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Standard Chartered Bank, spread over 1 cities. Besides the head office code SCBLBHBMXXX, you will find codes for regional offices and specialised units.

For the vast majority of payments to a private or business account, the head office code SCBLBHBMXXX is the right choice. If you have been given a specific code, stick to it rather than replacing it with the head office code.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying for the exact BIC in their bank details. Branch codes are sometimes changed or retired over time.

When will the money arrive at Standard Chartered Bank?

There is no single answer for every transfer: many land the same day or the next. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out the next business day. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments can also add some delay.

When a payment takes longer than expected, contact your bank for the tracking status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Keep your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms – you will need it for any trace request.

The bank that sent the money is able to request a trace or a recall. Request from the sender the payment receipt including the reference; that often settles the question quickly.

Receiving money from abroad at Standard Chartered Bank

To receive a transfer from abroad at Standard Chartered Bank, the person paying you needs not just the SWIFT code. The basics are: the account holder’s name, account number or IBAN, SCBLBHBMXXX and, for some countries, your home address.

Some sending banks also ask for the name and address of Standard Chartered Bank in Manama, so keep it at hand. Double-check the details before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

An incoming payment will not always land in full. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and when currencies differ, a markup on the rate comes on top. For business payments, you can agree who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.