SWIFT/BIC codes in Bangladesh

Bank SWIFT codes for Bangladesh

This directory lists 80 banks and financial institutions in Bangladesh. You need such a code mostly for international transfers and for payments in a foreign currency.

Select the bank from the list to see its head office code and any branch codes along with tips for payments to and from that bank. The rest of this page covers how the codes work, the cost of transfers and how to avoid mistakes before a payment.

How long does a transfer to Bangladesh take?

How fast money reaches Bangladesh is determined by a few things: the currency, the number of banks in between, cut-off times and time zones. Bank holidays in either country can add a day or more to the journey.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Specialist transfer services usually provide a status in their app, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

SWIFT transfers to Bangladesh

Because Bangladesh is outside SEPA, an international payment normally goes as a SWIFT payment. This means you always need the BIC of the receiving bank, together with the account number or IBAN.

Not every country uses the IBAN – where there is none, the local account number is enough. The recipient’s bank often provides instructions for payments from abroad. International transfers sometimes go via correspondent banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

How SWIFT codes from Bangladesh are built

A BIC is either 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. It starts with four letters for the bank, then two letters for the country and a two-character location code.

Whatever the bank, all Bangladesh codes share the same country code in positions five and six, namely the ISO code of Bangladesh. A code with other letters in that position belong to a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

The long version ends in a branch code, where XXX means the head office. Use a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it; otherwise the head office code is the safe choice.

Most SWIFT codes in Bangladesh: Islami Bank Bangladesh LTD

In our data, Islami Bank Bangladesh LTD holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Bangladesh. The head office of Islami Bank Bangladesh LTD uses IBBLBDDHXXX.

Banks differ in whether they register branch codes. Unless a branch code is given, the head office code IBBLBDDHXXX works for transfers to this bank.

Receiving money in Bangladesh from abroad

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details about your account, and missing ones are a common cause of delays. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and sometimes your postal address.

Look up your bank in the list on this page, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. It helps to include your bank’s name and city as well.

Do not be surprised if the amount credited is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments vary per bank; check the price list of your bank. For business payments, agree how the fees are split.

Check the code before you pay

The most reliable place for the correct BIC is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. When the code you were given differs from our list, do not guess – contact the recipient or their bank.

Our SWIFT/BIC directory draws on publicly available sources that we update periodically. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes and our data may lag behind. Use this list as a starting point: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and not part of any bank listed here.

Fraudsters often send payment requests with new bank details from what looks like a familiar address. A real SWIFT code tells you nothing about who owns the account.

What a transfer to Bangladesh really costs

An international bank payment to Bangladesh often costs more than the fee suggests. You pay a transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

The real cost is often in the rate: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Check the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites. The difference is your real cost.

For many currency pairs, a transfer service is cheaper than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the exchange rate. GoldexPay compares these providers next to each other, showing the amount that reaches the recipient for the same amount sent.