Bank Al Bilad SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Bank Al Bilad

If an invoice shows ALBISARI or ALBISARIXXX, you are looking at the same identifier for Bank Al Bilad in Saudi Arabia. A SWIFT code tells every bank in the chain which institution should receive the money. It comes up mainly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

On this page you will find what the code is put together, when it matters and what else a transfer to or from Bank Al Bilad requires. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify an individual account holder; that is what the account number or IBAN .

Getting paid from abroad into a Bank Al Bilad account

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs a few details from you. In practice that means: your name as registered with Bank Al Bilad, your account number or IBAN, the BIC ALBISARIXXX and sometimes your address.

You can add Bank Al Bilad and Riyadh too, since some forms ask for it. A typo in the IBAN can be more trouble than it looks; copy them from your banking app rather than typing.

Money from abroad does not always arrive in full. Fees for incoming transfers vary from bank to bank; check the price list of Bank Al Bilad. On invoices, it is common to state how the fees are split to avoid a shortfall.

Is ALBISARI still correct? How to check

The most reliable source for a SWIFT code is the recipient’s own bank details: an invoice, a bank statement or their online banking. When the code you were given differs from ALBISARI or ALBISARIXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or Bank Al Bilad.

Mistakes in the BIC tend to be annoying rather than fatal. Do not forget the IBAN: a mistake there is harder to correct than a wrong code.

A format check in your banking app merely tells you that the IBAN exists – not that it belongs to the person you mean to pay. More and more banks check the payee name with the account. Sending a small amount first can be a sensible step for large sums.

Sending money abroad from Bank Al Bilad

What you pay for a payment abroad has more than one component, and the transfer fee is only the most visible one. Besides the transfer fee, banks in between can take a cut, and when currencies are converted the bank usually uses a rate that is less favourable than the real market rate.

That exchange rate margin tends to be the largest cost because it is hidden in the rate. Check the rate you are offered with the mid-market rate. The difference is your real conversion cost.

Specialised transfer providers frequently offer a rate near the mid-market rate and lower fees. On GoldexPay you can compare the amount that arrives across services, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot. You can still use your account at Bank Al Bilad; only the conversion and sending happen elsewhere.

Bank Al Bilad: head office code versus branch codes

Having 5 codes in 3 locations, Bank Al Bilad belongs to the banks that use separate codes for branches and departments. The head office code remains ALBISARIXXX.

Unless the recipient tells you otherwise, go with ALBISARIXXX. Just use a branch code when the account holder gives you that exact code.

The best way is to take the code straight from the account holder’s invoice. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than the head office code.

Where our SWIFT data comes from

The details on this page come from public sources that we update regularly. Institutions reorganise, close branches and retire codes – a directory can be a step behind. Figures such as the number of codes come from our own dataset.

For any payment that matters, always confirm the code with the recipient’s bank or with the recipient. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site for money transfers and not part of Bank Al Bilad. Spotted an error? Let us know via our contact form.

Why Bank Al Bilad has an 8- and an 11-character code

The structure of a BIC never changes: a bank code of four letters, a two-letter country code and a two-character location code. Combined, those parts form ALBISARI.

The full version has three more characters for a branch or department. When those three characters are XXX, they simply mean the head office, so ALBISARIXXX and ALBISARI are interchangeable.

Leave out spaces or dashes when you type ALBISARI or ALBISARIXXX. A single character may route a payment to another bank, so copy it carefully.

Watch out for payment fraud

Criminals regularly use fake invoices containing changed bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. A correct SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account.

Verify new bank details via a separate channel, such as a phone number you already know. Urgency and secrecy tend to be warning signs. Acted too fast? Call the bank you paid from without delay and have them start a recall; also report it to the police.

People receiving money can be targeted as well: one known trick is a buyer who pays too much and then sends a request to send back the difference to another account. Do not act before the money has really arrived.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Bank Al Bilad

There is no single delivery time: some arrive within a day while others need several business days. Weekends and public holidays in either country add extra days. Sometimes a bank wants to know about the purpose of a payment before releasing it.

Many banks use SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every payment carries a unique reference, the UETR. Keep the payment confirmation until the recipient confirms – you will need it for any trace request.

A missing payment is investigated by the sending bank on the basis of the transfer details. Ask the sender for a copy of the payment confirmation; that often settles the question quickly.