United Bank Limited SWIFT/BIC code

What UNILBHBM means for a payment to United Bank Limited

Whether you are given UNILBHBM or UNILBHBMXXX, you are looking at the identical address for United Bank Limited in Bahrain. Banks worldwide use these codes to direct payments between countries to the right institution. In daily life you mostly come across the code on international invoices, in your banking app and in the bank details of United Bank Limited customers.

On this page we explain what the code means, when you need it and which other details a transfer to or from United Bank Limited requires. The SWIFT code alone does not identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN is for.

Is UNILBHBM still correct? How to check

The most reliable place for the right code remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. If the code you have differs from UNILBHBM or UNILBHBMXXX, do not guess.

Errors in the BIC tend to be costly rather than fatal: often the payment comes back, minus fees. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there can be harder to correct than a wrong code.

A validity check in your banking app only confirms that the IBAN is valid. Where available, a payee name check on the recipient adds an extra layer of safety. A small test payment can be worth it for a large first payment, even if it costs an extra fee.

Receiving money from abroad at United Bank Limited

To receive a transfer from abroad at United Bank Limited, the sender has to have more than the BIC. That means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC UNILBHBMXXX and usually your postal address.

The sender’s bank might request the bank address of United Bank Limited. A mistake in your account number is harder to fix than you might think; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is below what the sender paid. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank – the price list of United Bank Limited tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

UNILBHBM or UNILBHBMXXX – which one to use?

A SWIFT code is made up of a few fixed parts: the first four letters stand for the bank, characters five and six show the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. Combined, these eight characters form UNILBHBM, the code most people search for.

Many banks and apps accept either length. If a form asks for eleven characters, enter UNILBHBMXXX.

Enter the code in one piece, in capitals and without separators. A single letter can send a payment to a different institution, so check it twice.

How up to date is this code?

Our SWIFT/BIC directory is compiled from publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Still, banks merge or retire codes, so information can be out of date. The figures on this page reflect our own data and not on information from United Bank Limited itself.

Treat our data as a starting point, rather than as the last word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is not affiliated with United Bank Limited. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a short note.

Watch out for payment fraud

Scammers regularly use payment requests with new bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. That UNILBHBM is a real code does not mean that the account is legitimate – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Before paying, verify changed bank details by phone. Watch out for urgent requests, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. Acted too fast? Contact your bank without delay and have them try to recall the payment and report the fraud.

Scams can also target the receiver: someone claims to have sent too much and wants you to return the extra to a new account. A payment confirmation from the sender proves nothing – check your own account.

Head office or branch code at United Bank Limited?

United Bank Limited has 2 separate SWIFT/BIC codes. Only one is the head office code; the rest identify branches.

For most payments to a private or business account, the head office code UNILBHBMXXX is the right choice. A branch code only makes sense if the recipient’s bank explicitly mentions it.

The best way is to copy the code straight from the recipient’s invoice. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than UNILBHBMXXX.

When will the money arrive at United Bank Limited?

There is no single delivery time: some land the same day or the next, others take several business days. Bank holidays in the sending or receiving country add a day or more, since banks do not process on those days. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments may also cause a delay.

If the money is delayed, contact your bank for the tracking status or the UETR so they can trace it along the chain. Specialist transfer services often show a status in their app so you can see where the payment is.

If a payment has not arrived after a few business days, the person who paid needs to contact their own bank, not the receiving bank. As a recipient, it helps to check your statements to see a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

Paying someone abroad from your United Bank Limited account

What you pay for an international transfer has more than one component. You pay the transfer fee, sometimes charges from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when the money is converted.

Many banks rarely list the margin on the rate as a cost, but you pay it all the same. A simple test: set the rate you get next to the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers often use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives across services, so you can pick the cheapest route. You can still use your account at United Bank Limited; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.