GHCBGHAC11-character variant (head office):
GHCBGHACXXX| 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.
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.
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SWIFT and BIC are two names for the same identifier: an 8 or 11-character code standardised by ISO 9362 that identifies a bank in the SWIFT payment network. For a wire to GCB Bank, your sending bank needs this code (GHCBGHAC) to route the payment message through correspondent banks to GCB Bank in Accra.
An IBAN, by contrast, identifies a specific bank account — not the institution. IBANs are mandatory in the European Economic Area, the UK, most of the Middle East, and several African countries (but Ghana does not use IBANs universally). For most wires to Ghana, you will supply SWIFT code GHCBGHAC + the recipient's account number, not an IBAN.
UK sort codes (6 digits) and US routing numbers (9 digits) are domestic-only equivalents — they do not work for international wires. If a US-based sender wants to wire to GCB Bank, they need the SWIFT code, not the US routing number of the correspondent bank (although their bank may use the routing number internally to route their side of the wire).
One final technical detail on the 11-character form: the last three characters identify a specific branch. When they read 'XXX' (as in GHCBGHACXXX), they conventionally designate the head office itself. Most international wires use either the 8-character form or the 11-character form with XXX; unless your recipient explicitly tells you otherwise, that is the right choice.
GCB Bank's SWIFT/BIC code is GHCBGHAC. This 8-character code identifies the bank's Accra head office for international wire transfers.
Yes. SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) and BIC (Business Identifier Code) are two names for the same 8 or 11-character identifier standardised by ISO 9362. You will see GCB Bank's code referenced under either name on different financial platforms.
Yes. For an international wire to reach your GCB Bank account, the sender needs SWIFT code GHCBGHAC AND your account number. Some sending banks also request the recipient bank's full address (Thorpe Road, High Street, Accra).
Typically 1 to 5 business days. The timing depends on the intermediary (correspondent) banks between the sending bank and GCB Bank. Wires from major global banks (HSBC, Barclays, JPMorgan, Citi) usually clear fastest.
For smaller amounts to Ghana, operators such as Wise, LemFi, Sendwave, and TapTap Send typically offer a rate closer to mid-market and lower fees than a classic SWIFT bank wire. See our Ghana inbound corridor comparison for side-by-side pricing.
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.