SWIFT/BIC codes in Malaysia: banks starting with M

Bank SWIFT codes for Malaysia

Here you will find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 321 institutions in Malaysia, 413 codes in all. You will need a SWIFT/BIC code mostly when making payments across borders.

Search for the bank you need below and open its page to see all codes we have and what else a transfer requires. Below the list we explain how a code from Malaysia is put together, how to send money to Malaysia at a fair price and how to check a code before you pay.

Sending money to Malaysia for less

The price of a transfer to Malaysia is made up of more than one component – not only the fee you see. On top of the fee, correspondent banks may take a cut and, if currencies are converted, the bank often applies a less favourable rate than the real market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee: banks convert at a rate with a margin built in. Compare the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate, the midpoint you see on financial news sites.

Specialised transfer providers frequently use rates closer to the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay lists these providers side by side so you can see what actually arrives in Malaysia before you commit.

Transfer times to Malaysia

An international transfer to Malaysia typically takes one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Bank holidays in Malaysia or in the sending country can add a day or more, because banks do not process payments on those days.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi. Every gpi transfer carries a unique reference, the UETR, which the sending bank can use to trace it. Save the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Incoming international payments in Malaysia

A sender in another country needs a few details from you – incomplete details often cause delays. In practice that means: your name as your bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and sometimes your postal address.

Find your bank in the list above and compare the code with your own bank details, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Certain sending banks also ask for your bank’s address.

The amount you receive is often less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank; check the price list of your bank. For business payments, state who bears the costs.

Which bank in Malaysia has the most codes?

United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad leads the list for Malaysia when it comes to the number of SWIFT/BIC codes. Its head office code is UOVBMYKLXXX – the code most transfers need.

Many codes often means that the bank registers branches and departments separately – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. If not the recipient asks for a branch, UOVBMYKLXXX is fine for transfers to this bank.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Malaysia

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. Characters one to four identify the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and characters seven and eight mark the location.

You can spot a code from Malaysia from the fifth and sixth characters – those always form the country code of Malaysia. A code with other letters in that position come from a bank abroad, even if the bank name looks familiar.

The long version adds a branch code, where XXX means the head office. For most transfers the head office code is what you need, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

Banks in Malaysia beginning with the letter :letter

This list shows only the banks in Malaysia beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The totals mentioned above still cover the whole country, not just this letter.

Bank not listed? Its official name might start with a different letter – think of the full legal name instead of the brand. The complete list remains available when the letter filter does not help.

Paying a bank in Malaysia from abroad

To pay into Malaysia you almost always need a SWIFT/BIC code – Malaysia is not a SEPA country. Without it, most banks will not process the payment.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a local account number rather than an IBAN and sometimes a local routing or branch code. Ask the recipient exactly which details their bank requires for incoming international payments. Before it arrives, a payment may pass through correspondent banks.

About our data and how to check a code

The best place to find the right code is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. If the code you have does not match our list, stop and ask.

We gather bank codes using public sources and check our list from time to time. Institutions merge, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Use this list as a starting point, not as the final word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. We are an independent comparison service for money transfers, not a bank.

Fraudsters regularly send fake invoices carrying new bank details. Always confirm a change of bank details through a separate channel on a number you know.