If you need to receive an international wire transfer into a Singapore bank account — or instruct a business partner or overseas client to send funds to Singapore — you will need your bank’s SWIFT/BIC code alongside your account number. This page provides the correct SWIFT codes for all major Singapore banks, explains how to read and use them, and covers the key difference between SWIFT codes and IBAN (spoiler: Singapore does not use IBAN).

What is a SWIFT/BIC code?

A SWIFT code (also called a BIC code, for Bank Identifier Code) is a standard alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies a bank or financial institution in an international wire transfer. SWIFT codes are 8 or 11 characters long and are used by the SWIFT network — the global interbank messaging system — to route cross-border payments to the correct bank and branch. Every international wire transfer requires the recipient bank’s SWIFT/BIC code to process correctly. Without it, the sending bank cannot route the funds.

How to read a SWIFT code — the 8-character structure:

For DBS Bank Singapore, the head office SWIFT code is DBSSSGSG — read as: DBS Bank (DBSS) · Singapore (SG) · Singapore (SG). When in doubt, use the 8-character head office code — this is sufficient for most international wire transfers to Singapore.

Singapore bank SWIFT codes

The table below lists the correct SWIFT/BIC codes for all major banks in Singapore. These codes are used for receiving international wire transfers (SWIFT/TT payments) into Singapore bank accounts.

Important: POSB and DBS share the SWIFT code DBSSSGSG because POSB operates as a subsidiary of DBS Group. If you are asked for your bank’s SWIFT code and your account is held with POSB, provide DBSSSGSG.

Using an 11-character code: Some international transfers require an 11-character SWIFT code that identifies a specific branch. For most Singapore transfers, the 8-character head office code is sufficient — your account number identifies the account within the bank. If a specific branch code is required, contact your bank directly for the branch-level BIC.

SWIFT code vs IBAN — what’s the difference?

This is one of the most common sources of confusion when sending or receiving international transfers, particularly for people accustomed to the European banking system.

IBAN — International Bank Account Number — is a standardised account identifier used primarily in Europe (EU/EEA countries), the UK, and some Middle Eastern and North African countries. An IBAN encodes the country, bank, branch, and account number into a single string, typically 15–34 characters long, beginning with a two-letter country code (e.g. GB29NWBK60161331926819 for a UK account).

Singapore does not use IBAN. Singapore is not part of the IBAN system. If you attempt to provide an IBAN for a Singapore bank account, you will not find one — and your bank will not be able to generate one.

For international transfers into Singapore bank accounts, you provide:

1. Your account number (as issued by your Singapore bank — typically 10–11 digits)

2. Your bank’s SWIFT/BIC code (see the table above)

3. Your bank’s name and branch address (some sending banks require this)

4. Your full name or business name as registered with the bank

If an overseas sender tells you they need your IBAN for a Singapore transfer, clarify that Singapore does not issue IBANs. Provide your account number and SWIFT code instead — that is all that is needed.

How to find your Singapore bank’s SWIFT code

Your bank’s SWIFT code rarely changes and is not account-specific — it is the same for every account at that bank. You do not need to log in to find it. The most reliable ways:

1. Use this page. The SWIFT codes in the table above are correct for all major Singapore banks. DBS and POSB both use DBSSSGSG; OCBC uses OCBCSGSG; UOB uses UOVBSGSG.

2. Check your bank’s website. Every major Singapore bank lists its SWIFT/BIC code in its help centre or on its international transfer page. Search for “[bank name] SWIFT code” and navigate to the official bank website.

3. Check your bank account statement or internet banking portal. Singapore banks display the SWIFT code in the international transfer section of their online banking platforms — typically under “Receive international payment” or “Wire transfer details.”

4. Call your bank’s business banking line. If you need to verify a branch-specific 11-character code, your bank’s business banking team can confirm the exact code for your account.

Do not rely on unofficial third-party SWIFT code lookup websites for transactions. While many list correct head office codes, they may contain outdated or incorrect branch codes. When confirming a SWIFT code for a specific payment, verify against the bank’s own published information.

Receiving international payments as a Singapore business

SWIFT wire transfers into your Singapore bank account work well for large, infrequent B2B payments — but they have meaningful limitations for businesses that regularly receive payments from overseas buyers or partners:

• Settlement time: SWIFT wires typically take 2–5 business days to arrive, depending on the sending bank, intermediary banks, and currencies involved.

• Fees: Sending banks, intermediary banks, and receiving banks may all charge fees — costs of S$10–S$50 per transfer are common, sometimes more. These fees are often deducted from the transfer amount, meaning you receive less than the amount sent.

• Manual reconciliation: Each SWIFT transfer arrives as a credit on your bank statement with limited reference data, making it harder to match to a specific invoice or customer.

• Currency conversion: If the transfer is made in a foreign currency, your bank applies its own FX rate and conversion fee, which may not be transparent until settlement.

A more efficient alternative for many Singapore businesses is accepting international payments via a payment gateway that supports cross-border e-wallet and real-time payment methods — particularly for online sales to buyers in APAC markets.

HitPay’s cross-border payments capability lets Singapore businesses accept local payment methods from buyers across 12 APAC markets including China (Alipay+, WeChat Pay), India (UPI), Malaysia (GrabPay, TnG, FPX), Philippines (GCash, Maya), and more — all from a single merchant account. Your customer pays in their local app; you receive funds settled in SGD.

For businesses that do receive SWIFT wire transfers, HitPay’s invoicing tool lets you issue GST-compliant invoices in any currency (including USD, GBP, EUR, MYR, and 150+ others) with a built-in payment link — so your overseas buyers can pay via card, wallet, or bank transfer without you having to manually share bank details for every transaction.

Explore HitPay cross-border payments for Singapore → · HitPay payment gateway →

Related HitPay resources

• HitPay Cross-Border Payments for Singapore →

• HitPay Payment Gateway for Singapore →

• Singapore Pricing →

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