Standard Chartered Bank SWIFT/BIC code

What SCBLZAJ2 means for a payment to Standard Chartered Bank

SCBLZAJ2 and SCBLZAJ2XXX are the short and the long form of the same SWIFT/BIC code, and both point to Standard Chartered Bank in Johannesburg. A SWIFT code shows every bank in the chain exactly which bank is meant to get the money. You will need it mainly when dealing with payments that cross a border or a currency.

Further down you will find the practical questions: money coming in from abroad, sending money abroad and how to verify the code before you hit send. The SWIFT code on its own does not identify a personal account; that is what the account number or IBAN is for.

South African Rand (ZAR) and conversion costs

Most accounts at Standard Chartered Bank are typically held in ZAR, the local currency. Money sent in a different currency is exchanged into ZAR before it reaches the account. Each conversion costs the amount – usually through the rate rather than a fee.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on how much arrives, as rates and margins differ per bank. Compare how much ZAR arrives via different services.

Exchange rates change all the time, and some providers let you lock in a rate. If you pay regularly, small differences in the rate make a real difference over a year.

What the XXX in SCBLZAJ2XXX means

A SWIFT code is made up of fixed blocks: characters one to four stand for the bank, the next two give the country and characters seven and eight indicate the location. In this case, the 8-character core is SCBLZAJ2.

The 11-character version adds three more characters that identify a branch or department. If the last three are XXX, the code points to the head office.

Type the code as one block, in capitals and without separators. Pasting the code beats retyping it.

A note on our data

The details here come from public sources that we update regularly. It can happen that information here is no longer current. The figures on this page reflect our own data and not on information from Standard Chartered Bank itself.

Treat our directory on this page as a handy check. GoldexPay is an independent comparison site and not affiliated with Standard Chartered Bank. If you notice a mistake, we appreciate a message.

Standard Chartered Bank: head office code versus branch codes

With 3 codes in 1 cities, Standard Chartered Bank belongs to the banks that use individual codes for branches and departments. The main code remains SCBLZAJ2XXX.

Usually there is no need to pick a branch: transfers addressed to SCBLZAJ2XXX reach Standard Chartered Bank without problems. If you have been given a branch code, stick to it rather than swapping it with the head office code.

If you are not sure, ask the person you are paying which code their bank gave them. Branch codes are more prone to be retired than the head office code when a bank merges or closes offices.

Is SCBLZAJ2 still correct? How to check

Have the recipient send you the bank details straight from their banking app. Check that code with SCBLZAJ2 on this page; if they differ, ask before you pay.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or cost extra – sometimes after weeks of searching. An error in the account number can be more serious, because the money may be credited to someone else; check it just as carefully.

An automatic check by your bank merely tells you that the IBAN is valid, not that it is the right account. More and more banks compare the payee name with the account before you confirm. For a first payment, some people start with a small test amount and wait for confirmation.

Receiving money from abroad at Standard Chartered Bank

To receive a transfer from abroad at Standard Chartered Bank, the person paying you has to have not just the BIC. That means: your name exactly as it appears on the account, your IBAN or account number, the SWIFT/BIC code SCBLZAJ2XXX and usually your postal address.

It helps to include the bank name and Johannesburg as well, since some forms ask for it. Double-check every detail before you send them – a sender rarely spots a mistake in someone else’s details.

The amount you receive is often less than the amount sent. Charges on incoming payments differ per bank; check the price list of Standard Chartered Bank. On invoices, it is common to state who bears the costs, so that nobody is left short.

Watch out for payment fraud

Criminals often use fake invoices with new bank details sent from what looks like a familiar address. A valid SWIFT code says nothing about who owns the account: scammers use real codes of real banks.

Never trust contact details from the same email that announces the new account. Be suspicious of urgent requests, unusual wording or an email address that differs by one letter. Already paid? Contact the bank you paid from without delay and have them try to recall the payment; also report it to the police.

Fraud also target the receiver. Someone sends more than agreed and wants you to return the difference to a new account. Wait until the money is actually in your account.

Transfer times and tracking a payment to Standard Chartered Bank

There is no fixed answer for every transfer: some arrive within a day, others take several business days. Transfers sent after the cut-off time or just before weekends and holidays usually go out the next business day. Compliance checks on larger or unusual payments may also cause a delay.

A growing number of banks are connected to SWIFT gpi for faster and traceable payments. Every gpi transfer gets a unique transaction reference, the UETR. Keep your transfer receipt.

If a payment has not arrived within the expected time, the person who paid needs to contact the bank that sent it. On the receiving end, you can look at your statements for a slightly lower amount.

Paying someone abroad from your Standard Chartered Bank account

What you pay for an international transfer is made up of more than one component. You pay the fee for the transfer itself, possibly charges from correspondent banks in between and, above all, the margin on the exchange rate when the money is converted.

The markup on the rate is often the largest item, and it is easy to miss. A simple test: set the rate you get against the mid-market rate for the same moment and look at the difference.

Money transfer services often use rates closer to the mid-market rate and lower fees. GoldexPay lists transfer providers side by side so you can see what actually arrives. Choosing a specialist does not mean closing your account at Standard Chartered Bank.