GHCBGHAC11-character variant (head office):
GHCBGHACXXXWhether funds come from abroad or another local account, here's how to receive — and what it costs.
Sender uses GHCBGHAC + your account number.
Sender uses Wise, LemFi, or Sendwave to deposit into your account.
Receive into MTN MoMo, then move to GCB Bank if needed.
Ghanaian banks use sort codes assigned by GhIPSS; GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP) moves money between banks and wallets in real time.
Funds in a Ghanaian bank account can be pushed to MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, or AirtelTigo Money instantly via GhIPSS, and pulled back the same way.
Rail operator: www.ghipss.net
When you actually need a SWIFT code: only for receiving money from another country. GIP handles every domestic ghana bank-to-bank, bank-to-wallet, and wallet-to-bank transfer at near-instant speed. If the sender is in the same country, SWIFT isn't involved at all — they just need your sort codes or phone number.
For inbound international flows, GIP also matters: most modern remittance operators (Wise, Sendwave, LemFi, WorldRemit, TapTap Send) terminate their payouts via this rail rather than via correspondent SWIFT relationships. That's how they deliver in minutes instead of days — and why their all-in cost can be a fraction of a classic SWIFT wire.
Cash pickup is the fourth node in the receiving graph: Western Union, MoneyGram, Ria, RemitOne. These remain expensive but are the only option in some last-mile situations (no bank account, no wallet, urgent cash need). Mobile money cash-out via an agent network is increasingly the cheaper alternative — see our country mobile-money fee page for current cash-out rates.
One practical tip: if you're expecting a payment from abroad, ask the sender to choose the destination based on speed and amount. Small frequent payments below US$1,000 are almost always cheaper via a remittance app to your wallet. Mid-size payments (US$1,000–10,000) work well to your bank account via the same apps. Genuinely large payments (above US$50,000) are usually only practical via a SWIFT wire, even though they're the most expensive per dollar at that band.
| Bank code | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| GHCB | GH | AC |
| GCB Bank | GH (Ghana) | Accra |
An 11-character variant like GHCBGHACXXX also indicates the head office — the trailing 'XXX' is the default. Codes ending in different sequences (e.g. 'GHCBGHAC001') refer to specific branches.
Check any SWIFT/BIC code is correctly formatted before a transfer.
vs GHS (Ghanaian Cedi)
GCB Bank, formerly Ghana Commercial Bank, was founded in 1953 and is one of the largest banks in Ghana by branch network and customer base. Originally state-owned, the bank was partially privatised through a listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange in 1996, though the Government of Ghana retains a significant stake. GCB operates more than 180 branches across Ghana's 16 regions and is one of the dominant clearing channels for Cedi-denominated transactions. For diaspora senders from the UK, US, and Canada, the SWIFT code GHCBGHAC identifies the head office at Thorpe Road, Accra; the 11-character form is GHCBGHACXXX.
Thorpe Road, High Street, Accra
Map centred on Accra. Click "View on OpenStreetMap" below for precise location.
GCB Bank — Ghana's commercial bank, one of the country's oldest institutions (founded 1953) — has the SWIFT/BIC code GHCBGHAC. The 8-character base BIC GHCBGHAC targets the Accra head office; the 11-character variant GHCBGHACXXX names that same head office explicitly. You only need it for receiving an INTERNATIONAL wire (from another country). For transfers from another Ghana account, you just use your account number plus the domestic rail (GIP).
Yes. Operators like WorldRemit, Sendwave, Afriex, and Flutterwave Send let a sender abroad deposit directly into MTN MoMo without going through your GCB Bank account. It's usually faster and cheaper than a SWIFT wire for smaller amounts. You can then move funds to GCB Bank via GIP if needed.
Via GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP), which interconnects banks and wallets in real time. From the GCB Bank app: add MTN MoMo as a beneficiary with your phone number, and the transfer arrives instantly. See our Ghana mobile money fees page for the exact cost.
For amounts under ~US$5,000, a remittance app (Wise, LemFi, Sendwave) depositing direct to your GCB Bank account is almost always cheaper than a classic SWIFT wire — lower fees and a rate closer to mid-market. For larger amounts, compare SWIFT vs app on our Ghana inbound transfer comparison.
Yes. GCB Bank is connected to GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP), which enables near-instant transfers to other Ghana banks and to mobile money wallets (MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, AirtelTigo Money). This is the infrastructure remittance apps use behind the scenes to deliver in real time.
Source: GCB Bank's official website + Wise SWIFT directory. Last verified: 2026-06-04. SWIFT codes change rarely but always confirm with your bank before initiating a transfer. Educational only — not financial advice.