Banque du Liban SWIFT/BIC code

Banque du Liban SWIFT code: BDLCLBBA

If an invoice shows BDLCLBBA or BDLCLBBAXXX, you are looking at the same identifier for Banque du Liban in Lebanon. A BIC has a single purpose: it ensures that an international payment reaches the right bank. It comes up mainly for transfers between countries or a currency.

On this page we explain how the code means, when it matters and what else you need for a transfer to or from Banque du Liban. A SWIFT code identifies an institution, never a single account.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

A common scam works like this: you receive a request claiming that a company has a new bank account. A real SWIFT code says nothing about whether the request is genuine – scammers simply use real codes.

Never trust contact details from the same email that announces the change. Urgency and requests to keep it quiet are red flags; a genuine business can wait for you to check. If money has already gone to the wrong account, call your bank right away: the sooner they act, the better the chance of a recall.

Fraud can also target the receiver: someone sends too much and asks you to refund the difference via a different route. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing – check your own account.

Tracking a transfer to or from Banque du Liban

How quickly a payment arrives at Banque du Liban is determined by several factors: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, daily processing deadlines and time zones. Bank holidays in either country can add extra days to the journey. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments may also cause a delay, even when all details are correct.

Many banks are connected to SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer carries a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Keep your transfer receipt until the money has arrived.

If the money does not arrive within the expected time, the sender should start with their own bank rather than Banque du Liban. On the receiving end, it helps to look at your account for a partial amount, since fees may have been deducted.

Choosing between the 12 SWIFT codes of Banque du Liban

Having 12 codes, Banque du Liban belongs to the banks that register separate codes for branches and departments. The main code remains BDLCLBBAXXX.

Usually you do not need to look up a branch: transfers sent to BDLCLBBAXXX reach Banque du Liban correctly. Only use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

The safest approach is to copy the code directly from the recipient’s statement. Codes are sometimes changed or retired when banks reorganise, so a code from an old document is not always valid.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

We gather SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and update our list from time to time. Institutions reorganise, change names and change codes, and a directory never catches every change immediately. Counts and locations come from our own dataset.

Before any payment that matters, always confirm the BIC with the recipient’s bank or the recipient. GoldexPay is independent of Banque du Liban; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Spotted an error? Tell us via our contact form and we will look into it.

Why Banque du Liban has an 8- and an 11-character code

Every SWIFT/BIC code starts with the same eight core characters: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and two characters for the location. In this case, the 8-character core is BDLCLBBA.

XXX at the end of BDLCLBBAXXX does not stand for a missing value or an error: it stands for the head office of Banque du Liban. Certain payment forms ask for 11 characters, in which case you can add XXX behind BDLCLBBA.

Enter the code as one block, in upper case and without separators, exactly as shown here. Look out for the letter O and the digit 0 and the letter I and the digit 1, a common source of typos.

Getting paid from abroad into a Banque du Liban account

For an international payment at Banque du Liban, the sender has to have more than the SWIFT code. Give them your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, the BIC BDLCLBBAXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Certain sending banks also ask for the name and address of Banque du Liban; it does no harm to include it. A mistake in the IBAN is harder to fix than you might think, so copy the details from your online banking.

An incoming payment does not always land in full. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate applies. For business payments, you can state how the fees are split, so that nobody is left short.

Is BDLCLBBA still correct? How to check

The best place to find the correct BIC is a document from the bank itself like a bank statement or the account page in online banking. If the code you have differs from BDLCLBBA or BDLCLBBAXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or Banque du Liban.

With a wrong code, the payment may be delayed, bounce back or end up costing more. A mistake in the IBAN or account number can be more serious, so check that just as carefully.

Many banking apps validate the structure of an IBAN and some suggest the matching BIC. Where available, a name check on the recipient gives an extra layer of safety. Sending a small amount first can be worth it for a large first payment.

International transfers from Banque du Liban: the real cost

When you transfer money to another country via Banque du Liban, the visible fee is rarely all of the cost. You pay the transfer fee, possibly fees charged by intermediary banks in between and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the currency changes.

Banks rarely list their exchange rate markup as a cost. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Specialised transfer providers frequently offer rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. Next time you send money, it is worth to compare the total cost via GoldexPay. Using a transfer service does not require leaving Banque du Liban – you pay the provider from your own account.