SWIFT/BIC codes in Malaysia: banks starting with R

Malaysia: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

On this page you find the SWIFT/BIC codes of 321 institutions in Malaysia, 413 codes in all. You need such a code mostly for international transfers and for payments in a foreign currency.

Look for the bank you need below and open its page to see the full list of codes and the details a transfer needs. Further down we explain how codes from Malaysia are built, how to send money there without overpaying and how to check a code before you pay.

The structure of a Malaysia SWIFT/BIC code

A SWIFT code is either 8 or 11 characters long. Characters one to four identify the bank, characters five and six form the country code and the next two mark the location.

No matter which bank, every code from Malaysia have the same fifth and sixth letters: the ISO code of the country. When the country letters point to another country, you are looking at a bank in another country – worth double-checking.

If the last three are XXX, it means the head office, and the 8-character version leads to the same place. For most transfers the head office code is what you need unless the recipient asks for a specific branch.

How long does a transfer to Malaysia take?

An international transfer to Malaysia usually needs one to a few business days – it depends on currency, route and the banks in between. Payments made after the cut-off time or just before a weekend or public holiday usually go out a business day later.

When a payment takes longer than expected, ask the sender to contact their own bank for a trace – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Money transfer services often show a status in their app so you can follow the payment.

Incoming international payments in Malaysia

A sender in another country will ask for several details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. Share the account holder’s name, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Look up your bank in the list on this page and compare the code with your own bank details, but take the code from your own bank details when in doubt. Certain banks may also ask for your bank’s address.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Fees for incoming transfers vary per bank. For business payments, state who bears the costs.

How reliable is this list?

The most reliable place for the correct BIC remains paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. When the code you were given differs from the code listed here, do not guess: check with the recipient or the bank.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on public sources and is updated regularly. Even so, banks merge, rename themselves or retire codes and our data may lag behind. Treat this list as a starting point rather than the last word; the recipient’s bank details are leading. GoldexPay is a comparison service.

Scammers regularly use payment requests carrying new bank details that look completely genuine. Always verify a change of bank details through a separate channel, using a number you already had.

Banks in Malaysia starting with :letter

This page only shows banks in Malaysia beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The totals mentioned above still refer to all banks in Malaysia, not just this letter.

Cannot find the bank? The registered name might begin with another word – think of the full legal name instead of the brand. The full overview for Malaysia is available when the letter filter does not help.

Most SWIFT codes in Malaysia: United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

Of all banks in Malaysia, United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad is listed with the largest number of codes. The head office uses UOVBMYKLXXX, which is the code to use when no branch is specified.

A large number of codes usually reflects separate codes for branches, departments or services – it says nothing about the size of the bank as such. Unless the recipient asks for a branch, the head office code UOVBMYKLXXX works for a payment to United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad.

Why a transfer to Malaysia needs a SWIFT code

Malaysia is outside the SEPA area. International transfers to Malaysia normally go over the SWIFT network.

Not every country uses IBAN numbers. The recipient’s bank usually has instructions for incoming international payments, and it is worth following them to the letter. SWIFT payments can pass through one or more intermediary banks and fees can be taken along the way.

Sending money to Malaysia for less

If you send money to Malaysia through a regular bank, the fee you see is only part of the cost. There is the transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks along the way and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest cost item, even though it is not listed as a fee. A simple test: put the offered rate next to the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

Specialist money transfer services frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in Malaysia across services, so you can pick the cheapest route.