Arab Bank PLC SWIFT/BIC code

ARABPS22 – the SWIFT/BIC code of Arab Bank PLC

Whether you are given ARABPS22 or ARABPS22XXX, you are looking at the identical identifier for Arab Bank PLC in Palestinian Territories. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get the money, much like a postcode for banks. You will need it mainly for payments that cross a border or a currency.

We wrote this page to help people who sends money to an account at Arab Bank PLC. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify a personal account; for that you need the account number or IBAN is for.

Verifying the SWIFT code of Arab Bank PLC

The most reliable place for the right code is paperwork issued by the bank, such as a statement or the account details in online banking. If the code you have differs from ARABPS22 or ARABPS22XXX, stop and ask.

An incorrect BIC may lead to a delay, a returned payment or extra fees. An error in the account number can be more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else, so check that just as carefully.

Many banking apps validate the structure of IBANs and sometimes look up the BIC automatically – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a payee name check on the recipient gives extra certainty. When you pay someone new, some people send a small amount first before sending the rest.

Watch out for payment fraud

Fraudsters often use payment requests containing changed bank details, sometimes in an email that looks completely genuine. The fact that ARABPS22 exists does not mean that a request mentioning it is genuine – fraudsters use real bank codes as well.

Never trust contact details from the same email that announces the new account. Watch out for urgent requests, odd spelling or a sender address that is slightly off. Acted too fast? Call your bank without delay and ask them to start a recall.

Recipients can be targeted as well: a classic trick is a buyer who pays too much followed by a request to refund the difference. Do not act before the money has really arrived.

Arab Bank PLC: head office code versus branch codes

With 18 codes, Arab Bank PLC is one of the banks that use separate codes for parts of the organisation and departments. The main code remains ARABPS22XXX.

Usually there is no need to look up a branch: payments addressed to ARABPS22XXX are routed within Arab Bank PLC without problems. A branch code only makes sense when the account holder specifically mentions it.

When in doubt, ask the person you are paying for the exact BIC in their bank details. Codes for branches are more prone to change than ARABPS22XXX.

Why Arab Bank PLC has an 8- and an 11-character code

Each SWIFT/BIC code starts with an 8-character core: four letters for the bank, two letters for the country and two characters for the location. The result is ARABPS22, the short form of the code.

The 11-character version adds a three-character extension for a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, the code points to the head office, which is why ARABPS22XXX and ARABPS22 lead to the same place.

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

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Arab Bank PLC

How quickly a payment arrives at Arab Bank PLC depends on several factors: which currency you send, how many intermediary banks are involved, cut-off times and time zones. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday often start a business day later. Occasionally a bank wants to know what the payment is for before releasing it.

If a transfer seems late, ask your bank about the tracking status so they can trace it along the chain. Save the payment confirmation until the money has arrived; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

A delayed transfer is investigated from the sending side on the basis of the transfer details. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation including the reference – it helps your own bank look for the money.

Incoming international payments to Arab Bank PLC

If you expect a payment from another country, send the payer all details at once. Share your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, the BIC ARABPS22XXX and your address, which some banks require.

Some banks also ask for the bank’s address, so keep it at hand. Check the details before you share them.

Expect that the incoming amount is smaller than what the sender paid. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate applies. For business payments, you can agree who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

Our SWIFT/BIC directory draws on public sources and is updated regularly. It is possible that a code on this page is out of date after a merger or reorganisation. The figures we show reflect what is in our directory and not on information from Arab Bank PLC itself.

Treat our data as a reference, not as the final word: the recipient’s bank details come first. GoldexPay is independent of Arab Bank PLC; we are a comparison site for money transfers. Found an error? Tell us through the contact page and we will look into it.

What a transfer from Arab Bank PLC abroad really costs

When you transfer money abroad from Arab Bank PLC, the fee you see is rarely all of what you pay. Besides a fixed fee, correspondent or intermediary banks may deduct a fee, and if the money changes currency, the bank often applies a rate that is less favourable than the actual market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: the bank converts using an exchange rate with a margin built in. An easy check: put the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate and look at the difference.

Specialised transfer providers frequently use a rate near the mid-market rate with clearer fees. GoldexPay lists these services next to each other so you can see what actually arrives for the same amount sent. You can still keep your account at Arab Bank PLC as the source of the money; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.