Arab Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

Arab Bank PLC SWIFT code: ARABLBBX

If an invoice shows ARABLBBX or ARABLBBXXXX, you are looking at the identical identifier for Arab Bank PLC in Lebanon. The code has a single purpose: it ensures that money from abroad reaches the right bank. You will need it mostly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

Below you will find the practical side: receiving money at Arab Bank PLC, sending money abroad and how to verify a SWIFT code before you confirm a payment. A SWIFT code names an institution, never a single account, which is why you always need the account number too.

Choosing between the 15 SWIFT codes of Arab Bank PLC

Arab Bank PLC has 15 separate SWIFT/BIC codes across 6 cities. One of them is the head office code; the others identify branches or departments, and sometimes specific services.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, use ARABLBBXXXX or its short form ARABLBBX. Only use a branch code when the account holder explicitly asks for it, for example on a letter or invoice.

If you are not sure, check with the recipient for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than ARABLBBXXXX.

When will the money arrive at Arab Bank PLC?

An international transfer usually takes anywhere from one to several business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Weekends and public holidays in either country add extra days. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments may also add a delay, even when all details are correct.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Every payment carries a unique reference, the UETR. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms.

A delayed transfer has to be investigated from the sending side. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation with the date and reference; that often settles the question quickly.

Watch out for payment fraud

Criminals often send payment requests containing new bank details. A correct SWIFT code says nothing about whether the request is genuine.

Never trust contact details in the same message that contains the new account. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet tend to be red flags – a real supplier can wait a day. Already paid? Call your bank without delay and have them start a recall; also report it to the police.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much followed by a request to send back the difference abroad. Do not act before the money has really arrived.

Incoming international payments to Arab Bank PLC

If you are waiting for money from abroad, give the sender everything they need in one go. That means: your full name as registered with Arab Bank PLC, your IBAN or account number, the BIC ARABLBBXXXX (or ARABLBBX) and sometimes your postal address.

You can add the bank name and Beirut as well, because some payment forms have separate fields for them. Double-check each detail before you share them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

What lands in your account can be less than the amount sent. Fees for incoming transfers differ per bank; check the price list of Arab Bank PLC. For business payments, you can state who bears the costs to avoid a shortfall.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Arab Bank PLC

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details. If the code you have does not match ARABLBBX or ARABLBBXXXX, do not guess.

With a wrong code, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or end up costing more, and tracing it can take weeks. Do not forget the IBAN: an error there is more difficult to correct than a wrong code.

A validity check by your bank only tells you that the IBAN is valid – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. If your bank offers it, a payee name check before sending adds extra certainty. A small test payment can be worth it for a large first payment.

What the XXX in ARABLBBXXXX means

Each SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and two characters for the location. Together, these eight characters form ARABLBBX – the version you usually see online.

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

Enter the code in one piece, in upper case and without spaces, exactly as shown here. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 and I versus 1.

International transfers from Arab Bank PLC: the real cost

What you pay for a payment abroad has several parts – not just the fee on your screen. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from correspondent banks in between and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate if the currency changes.

Many banks rarely list their exchange rate markup as a cost – you only notice it if you compare. Compare their rate with the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell rates you see on financial sites. The difference is your real conversion cost.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer. Before your next transfer, take a minute comparing the total cost on GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Arab Bank PLC.

A note on our data

The directory on GoldexPay is compiled from publicly available sources and is updated regularly. Banks reorganise, change names and retire codes, and a directory never catches every change immediately. Counts and locations are from our directory.

For any payment that matters, confirm the BIC with Arab Bank PLC or the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site for money transfers and not part of Arab Bank PLC. Should you notice a mistake, we appreciate a short note via the contact page.