SWIFT/BIC codes in Lesotho

Bank SWIFT codes for Lesotho

This overview contains 6 banks and financial institutions in Lesotho and 6 SWIFT/BIC codes between them. You will need such a code mostly for payments across borders, and especially for payments in foreign currencies.

Choose a bank from the list to see the head office code and its other codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. Further down you can read how codes from Lesotho are built, how to send money there without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

Transfer times to Lesotho

How quickly money reaches Lesotho is determined by several factors: which currency you send, the number of banks in between, daily processing deadlines and differences in time zone. Public holidays in Lesotho or in the sending country can add extra days.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every payment gets a unique reference, the UETR. Money transfer services often show tracking online, which makes it easier to see where the money is.

The South African Rand (ZAR) and conversion costs

The currency of Lesotho is the South African Rand (ZAR). If you send another currency, it has to be converted at some point.

Who does the conversion affects how much arrives. Check what ZAR arrives via different providers; the difference between options can be larger than you expect. Rates for ZAR move all the time – some providers let you lock in a rate.

Paying a bank in Lesotho from abroad

Lesotho is not part of the SEPA area. International transfers to Lesotho normally go through the SWIFT network, and the BIC of the receiving bank is required.

In some countries, accounts are identified by a local account number rather than an IBAN. Ask the recipient exactly which details their bank requires for payments from abroad. Before it arrives, a payment can go through intermediary banks that charge for their part.

How reliable is this list?

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. An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a payment being sent back or extra fees, so compare it with the list on this page.

This list is compiled from public sources. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes. For any payment of any size, check the BIC with the recipient. GoldexPay is not a bank and has no link to the banks in this list.

Be wary of invoices containing a new account – a common fraud method. A valid BIC tells you nothing about whether a request is genuine.

Receiving money in Lesotho from abroad

For an international payment in Lesotho, the person paying you needs not just the BIC. That means: your full name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and, often, your address.

The code of your bank is in our list but always compare it with your own bank details. It helps to add the name and city of your bank as well, since some payment forms ask for it.

What lands in your account is often lower than what was sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee, your bank may charge for incoming payments, and if the money is converted, an exchange rate margin applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees before the money is sent.

The largest SWIFT network in Lesotho: Central Bank of Lesotho

Among the 6 institutions we list, Central Bank of Lesotho has the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Lesotho. The head office uses CBLELSMXXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

Many codes usually reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code CBLELSMXXXX works for transfers to this bank.

What a transfer to Lesotho really costs

A bank transfer to Lesotho can cost rather more than the fee suggests. You pay a transfer fee, sometimes fees from correspondent banks and, above all, the exchange rate markup when currencies differ.

The real cost is often in the rate: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Compare the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many routes, a transfer service is less expensive than a bank. Before your next transfer to Lesotho, it is worth to compare what arrives via GoldexPay instead of going straight to your bank.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Lesotho

Bank identifier codes follow the same format worldwide: 8 characters, sometimes followed by three more. First comes four letters for the bank, then a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

In every code from Lesotho, letters five and six are the two-letter ISO code of Lesotho. When the country letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank somewhere else.

The last three characters, if present, stand for a branch or department; XXX is used for the head office. Use a branch code just when the recipient’s bank asks for it – otherwise stick with the head office.