Alawwal Bank SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Alawwal Bank

AAALSARI and AAALSARIXXX are two ways of writing the same bank identifier, and both point to Alawwal Bank in Riyadh. A SWIFT code tells the sending bank exactly which bank should receive the money, much like a postcode for banks. In practice you usually come across it on international invoices, in payment forms and in the bank details of Alawwal Bank customers.

Further down we go through the practical questions: money coming in from abroad, paying someone in another country and how to check the code before you confirm a payment. Remember that the BIC just identifies the bank, not the person: the IBAN or account number takes care of that.

8 or 11 characters: AAALSARI versus AAALSARIXXX

Each SWIFT/BIC code has an 8-character core: a four-letter bank code, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. The result is AAALSARI for Alawwal Bank.

The 11-character version has three more characters for a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, they simply mean the head office.

Do not add spaces, dots when you enter AAALSARI; the code is always written in one block. Watch for the letter O and the digit 0 or the letter I and the digit 1, a common source of typos.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

This directory draws on public sources. Still, banks merge, rename themselves or change codes. Counts and locations come from our directory.

See our directory on this page as a handy check, and let the details from the recipient or Alawwal Bank have the final say. GoldexPay has no connection to Alawwal Bank, we only compare transfer services. Found outdated information? Let us know through the contact page and we will look into it.

Incoming international payments to Alawwal Bank

A sender in another country will ask for a few details about your account – incomplete details often cause delays. Give them your name as the bank knows it, your account number or IBAN, the BIC AAALSARIXXX and your address, which some banks require.

Some sending banks want the bank’s address, so keep it at hand. Check each detail before you send them, because the sender’s bank usually copies them as is.

What lands in your account can be less than the amount sent. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the currency changes, a markup on the rate applies. Make clear with the sender who covers the fees.

How long does an international transfer to Alawwal Bank take?

There is no fixed delivery time for every transfer: some arrive within a day, others take several business days. Transfers sent late in the day or just before a weekend or public holiday often go out the next business day. Extra checks on larger or unusual payments may also cause a delay.

A growing number of banks use SWIFT gpi. Every gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR, which your bank can use to see where the money is. Save your transfer receipt until the recipient confirms; it contains the details a bank needs to start a trace.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid needs to contact their own bank, not the receiving bank. As a recipient, you can look at your account to see a partial amount.

Choosing between the 5 SWIFT codes of Alawwal Bank

With 5 codes in 3 cities, Alawwal Bank is one of the banks that register individual codes for branches. The main code remains AAALSARIXXX.

If nobody asks you for a branch code, go with AAALSARIXXX or its short form AAALSARI. When you receive a specific code, stick to it rather than replacing it for the head office code.

The safest approach is to take the code straight from the account holder’s bank details. Codes for branches are more likely to be retired than AAALSARIXXX.

Before you send: check the Alawwal Bank code

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details. If the code you have differs from AAALSARI or AAALSARIXXX, stop and ask – contact the recipient or Alawwal Bank.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or cost extra, and tracing it can take weeks. Remember the IBAN: an error there is more difficult to undo than a wrong code.

Most online banking apps validate the format of IBANs and some suggest the matching BIC. If your bank offers it, a payee name check before sending adds extra certainty. When you pay someone new, some people start with a small amount first.

Protect yourself against fake payment requests

Fraudsters often use fake invoices containing changed bank details. A correct SWIFT code tells you nothing about whether the request is genuine – scammers simply use real codes.

Always verify changed bank details by phone on a number you know, not one from the message. Pressure or secrecy tend to be red flags. When money was sent to a fraudster, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams also work the other way. Someone sends more than agreed and wants you to return the difference via a different route. A screenshot of a transfer proves nothing; only your own account shows what has arrived.

Sending money abroad from Alawwal Bank

An international bank payment can cost more than the listed fee. You pay the transfer fee, possibly charges from correspondent banks along the way and, most importantly, the margin on the exchange rate when the money is converted.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate, rather than in the fee: many banks convert at a rate that includes a margin. Check their rate with the mid-market rate – the rate you find on financial news sites; the gap is what conversion costs you.

For many routes, a transfer service is less expensive than a bank – mostly thanks to the rate. On GoldexPay you can compare what recipients receive across services, so you can pick the cheapest route. You can always keep your account at Alawwal Bank, while a cheaper service handles the conversion.