UMBLGHAC11-character variant (head office):
UMBLGHACXXXWhether funds come from abroad or another local account, here's how to receive — and what it costs.
Sender uses UMBLGHAC + your account number.
Sender uses Wise, LemFi, or Sendwave to deposit into your account.
Receive into MTN MoMo, then move to UMB 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Check any SWIFT/BIC code is correctly formatted before a transfer.
vs GHS (Ghanaian Cedi)
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.
57 Examination Loop, North Ridge, Accra
Map centred on Accra. Click "View on OpenStreetMap" below for precise location.
Universal Merchant Bank — Ghana's merchant bank, one of the country's oldest institutions (founded 1972) — has the SWIFT/BIC code UMBLGHAC. The 8-character base BIC UMBLGHAC targets the Accra head office; the 11-character variant UMBLGHACXXX 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 UMB account. It's usually faster and cheaper than a SWIFT wire for smaller amounts. You can then move funds to UMB via GIP if needed.
Via GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP), which interconnects banks and wallets in real time. From the UMB 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 UMB 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. UMB 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: 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.