Home SWIFT/BIC code Bahrain
Bahrain SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code BH in positions 5-6
- Example
- NBOBBHBM
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + BH (country) + 2-character location code, plus an optional 3-character branch code
- An 8-character code (or one ending XXX) refers to the bank's head office in Manama — nearly every major bank shares BM as the location code
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read BH, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}BH[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Bahraini SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Bahrain, working alongside the domestic Bahraini IBAN that identifies the account itself. Every Bahraini BIC has BH fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks — a mix of local and pan-Gulf institutions — all anchor their SWIFT head office in Manama.
Major Bahraini bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| National Bank of Bahrain | NBOBBHBM | Manama |
| Ahli United Bank | AUBBBHBM | Manama |
| Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) | BBKUBHBM | Manama |
How this validator works
This tool checks that the code is 8 or 11 characters, the first 4 characters are letters, positions 5-6 read BH, and the remaining characters follow the letter-or-digit pattern for the location and branch segments — entirely in your browser, with nothing sent to a server.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
A pass confirms the code fits the Bahraini BIC pattern, not that NBOB, AUBB, or BBKU still names an operating bank, or that the branch suffix is current. A BIC has no checksum digit, so a fabricated code that matches the shape still passes.
Scope: format validation only. A correctly formatted BIC says nothing about whether the accompanying Bahraini IBAN entered on the same form is valid.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Bahraini bank?
A Bahraini BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, BH fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example NBOBBHBM for the National Bank of Bahrain.
Why do most Bahraini BICs end in BM?
BM is the SWIFT location code for Manama, Bahrain's capital and the Gulf's oldest financial centre — nearly every major Bahraini bank registers its head office there.
Does an 8-character code work for a Bahraini bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both identify the same head office and are accepted interchangeably on wire instructions.