SWIFT/BIC codes in Palestinian Territories

Palestinian Territories: banks and their SWIFT/BIC codes

In Palestinian Territories we have 57 SWIFT/BIC codes. Each code identifies a bank or one of its branches, so a payment from abroad reaches the right place.

Pick a bank from the list to see the head office code and any branch codes, plus practical notes for sending and receiving money. The rest of this page explain how the codes work, the cost of transfers and the checks worth doing before a payment.

About our data and how to check a code

The most reliable place for the right code is a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. An incorrect BIC may lead to delays, a payment being sent back or extra fees, so compare it with the list on this page.

The directory on GoldexPay draws on publicly available sources that we update periodically. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes, and no directory catches every change immediately. For any payment that matters, check the BIC with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and has no link to the banks in this list.

Watch out for payment requests with changed bank details – a common fraud method. Before paying, confirm changed details through a separate channel on a number you know.

SWIFT transfers to Palestinian Territories

To pay into Palestinian Territories you almost always need a SWIFT/BIC code – Palestinian Territories is not a SEPA country. Without it, most banks cannot send the transfer at all.

Depending on the country, accounts are identified by a local account number instead of an IBAN. Check with the recipient which details their bank requires for incoming international payments. International transfers can pass through one or more intermediary banks, each of which may deduct a fee.

Which bank in Palestinian Territories has the most codes?

In our directory, Arab Bank PLC holds the largest number of SWIFT/BIC codes in Palestinian Territories. The head office uses ARABPS22XXX – the code most transfers need.

Many codes usually means that the bank registers branches and departments separately, not necessarily that the bank is the biggest in the country. Paying someone at Arab Bank PLC? Go with ARABPS22XXX except when the recipient gives you a branch code.

Receiving money in Palestinian Territories from abroad

To receive a transfer from abroad into a Palestinian Territories account, the person paying you needs not just the SWIFT code. Share the account holder’s name, your account number or IBAN, the BIC of your bank and your address.

Your bank’s code is in the list on this page but always compare it with your own bank details. Some banks also ask for the name and address of your bank.

Do not be surprised if the incoming amount is smaller than the amount on the sender’s receipt. Charges on incoming payments differ from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees, especially for larger amounts.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Palestinian Territories

A BIC is 8 or 11 characters long and follows a fixed pattern. The first four letters stand for the bank, the fifth and sixth characters are the country code and characters seven and eight give the location.

Whatever the bank, every code from Palestinian Territories share the same country code in positions five and six: the ISO code of the country. When the country letters do not match Palestinian Territories, the code belongs to a bank in another country, so check again.

The long version adds three characters for a branch, where XXX means the head office. Use a branch code only when the recipient explicitly gives you one – otherwise stick with the head office.

How long does a transfer to Palestinian Territories take?

There is no fixed delivery time for payments to Palestinian Territories: many arrive the same day or the next. Payments made late in the day or on a weekend or public holiday often start the next business day.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi, which lets them follow a payment from bank to bank. Each gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Keep the payment confirmation – you will need it if something goes wrong.

Bank or transfer service for Palestinian Territories?

When you send money to Palestinian Territories with your bank, the stated fee is rarely all of what you pay. You pay the transfer fee, possibly charges from intermediary banks and, most importantly, the exchange rate markup if the money is converted.

The real cost is often in the rate – the bank builds a margin into its rate. Check the bank’s rate with the mid-market rate.

Money transfer services often use a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives in Palestinian Territories across providers, so you can pick the cheapest route.