UMBLGHAC11-character variant (head office):
UMBLGHACXXX| Bank code | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|
| UMBL | GH | AC |
| UMB | GH (Ghana) | Accra |
An 11-character variant like UMBLGHACXXX also indicates the head office — the trailing 'XXX' is the default. Codes ending in different sequences (e.g. 'UMBLGHAC001') refer to specific branches.
Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) was founded in 1972 as Merchant Bank Ghana Limited, the country's first merchant bank. The institution received a universal banking licence in 2005 and was rebranded as Universal Merchant Bank in 2013 following a recapitalisation. UMB operates around 35 branches and focuses on trade finance, corporate banking, and SME lending. The bank has a strategic partnership with Fortiz Equity Fund, which holds a majority stake. For diaspora senders and corporate clients, the SWIFT code UMBLGHAC (with bank code UMBL derived from "Universal Merchant Bank Limited") identifies the head office at North Ridge, Accra. Long form: UMBLGHACXXX.
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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 UMB, your sending bank needs this code (UMBLGHAC) to route the payment message through correspondent banks to Universal Merchant 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 UMBLGHAC + 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 UMB, 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 UMBLGHACXXX), 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.
Universal Merchant Bank's SWIFT/BIC code is UMBLGHAC. 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 UMB's code referenced under either name on different financial platforms.
Yes. For an international wire to reach your UMB account, the sender needs SWIFT code UMBLGHAC AND your account number. Some sending banks also request the recipient bank's full address (57 Examination Loop, North Ridge, Accra).
Typically 1 to 5 business days. The timing depends on the intermediary (correspondent) banks between the sending bank and UMB. 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: UMB'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.