Home SWIFT/BIC code Ghana
Ghana SWIFT/BIC code validator
How the SWIFT/BIC code format works
- Format
- 8 or 11-character bank identifier code, country code GH in positions 5-6
- Example
- GHCBGHAC
Things to watch for
- Structure: 4-letter bank code + GH (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 Accra — most major banks share AC as the location code
- No checksum digit — this is a format check only; it confirms positions 5-6 read GH, not that the bank or branch actually exists
^[A-Z]{4}GH[A-Z0-9]{2}([A-Z0-9]{3})?$A Ghanaian SWIFT/BIC code identifies the bank on an international wire transfer into or out of Ghana. Every Ghanaian BIC has GH fixed at positions 5-6, right after the 4-letter bank code, and the country’s largest banks — including local institutions and pan-African groups with a Ghana presence — all register their SWIFT head office in Accra.
Major Ghanaian bank BIC prefixes
| Bank | BIC | Location |
|---|---|---|
| GCB Bank | GHCBGHAC | Accra |
| Ecobank Ghana | ECOCGHAC | Accra |
| Absa Bank Ghana | BARCGHAC | Accra |
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 GH, 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 Ghanaian BIC pattern, not that GHCB, ECOC, or BARC 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. Note that Absa’s Ghana code still carries the legacy BARC prefix from its former Barclays branding, which is a normal carryover, not an error.
Scope: format validation only. Ghana does not issue IBANs, so cross-border transfers pair the BIC with the recipient’s domestic account details.
SWIFT/BIC code FAQ
What's the SWIFT code format for a Ghanaian bank?
A Ghanaian BIC is 8 or 11 characters: a 4-letter bank code, GH fixed at positions 5-6, a 2-character location code, and an optional 3-character branch code — for example GHCBGHAC for GCB Bank.
Why do most Ghanaian BICs end in AC?
AC is the SWIFT location code for Accra, Ghana's capital and financial centre, where nearly every major Ghanaian bank registers its head office.
Does an 8-character code work for a Ghanaian bank?
Yes — the 8-character BIC and its 11-character form ending XXX both point to the same head office and are accepted interchangeably on wire instructions.