How the codes work
A transfer to a Singapore bank account can ask for up to three codes besides the account number:
- Bank code: 4 digits, one per bank, for GIRO and FAST. DBS and POSB are 7171, OCBC 7339, UOB 7375.
- Branch code: 3 digits, for the old interbank GIRO forms. At DBS, OCBC, HSBC and SBI it’s the first 3 digits of the account number; every 9-digit POSB account is 081; UOB looks it up from the first 3 digits; Standard Chartered is 0 then the first 2 digits. FAST, PayNow and the new GIRO go by the SWIFT code and the whole account number instead.
- SWIFT code, or BIC: for transfers from overseas. 8 characters: 4 for the bank, 2 for the country (SG) and 2 for the place, like DBSS SG SG. Some forms want 11: the last 3 are a branch, and XXX means the head office, so DBSSSGSG and DBSSSGSGXXX are the same.
Singapore has no IBAN, sort codes or routing numbers: the bank code, the SWIFT code and the account number are all a transfer needs.
Every GIRO bank
Bank codes and SWIFT codes from the Association of Banks in Singapore’s SWIFT BIC for participating GIRO banks (29 April 2026); account number lengths from ABS’s FAST fact sheet (10 April 2026); branch codes from UOB’s ACH bank and branch code guide (8 October 2026) and the banks’ own pages. Checked 1 November 2026. Sending a lot of money? Check the codes with the bank first.
Questions
Is POSB’s bank code the same as DBS’s?
Yes: POSB is part of DBS, so both are 7171, with SWIFT code DBSSSGSG. The branch code is different: every 9-digit POSB account is 081, while a 10-digit DBS account’s branch code is its first 3 digits.
What are the bank codes and SWIFT codes of DBS, OCBC and UOB?
For the banks most people in Singapore use (UOB’s SWIFT code starts UOVB, not UOB):
- DBS and POSB: 7171, DBSSSGSG
- OCBC: 7339, OCBCSGSG
- UOB: 7375, UOVBSGSG
- Standard Chartered: 9496, SCBLSG22
- HSBC (personal accounts): 9548, HSBCSGS2
- Maybank Singapore: 7302, MBBESGS2
- Trust Bank: 9733, TRBUSGSG
- GXS Bank: 9751, GXSPSGSG
The other GIRO banks are in “Every GIRO bank” above.
Why does my form ask for a branch code?
The old interbank GIRO took the bank code, a branch code and the account number. Many forms still ask for all three. FAST, PayNow and the new GIRO go by the bank’s SWIFT code and the whole account number, so a branch code is only needed where a form insists.
Do I need a SWIFT code to send money within Singapore?
Not usually: FAST and PayNow transfers only need the bank (picked from a list) and the account number, or a phone number or UEN for PayNow. The SWIFT code is for money coming from overseas, though some local forms ask for it too.
What’s the XXX at the end of a SWIFT code?
An 11-character SWIFT code is the bank’s 8-character code plus 3 for a branch. XXX means the head office, so OCBCSGSG and OCBCSGSGXXX are the same code. Other endings, like UOVBSGSGCSD, are one branch or department of the bank.
Why are there two codes for HSBC, Citibank and Maybank?
Each has two banks in Singapore. Personal accounts are at HSBC Bank (Singapore) Limited (9548, HSBCSGS2), Citibank Singapore Limited (9201, CITISGSL) and Maybank Singapore Limited (7302, MBBESGS2). The other codes are for the parent banks’ Singapore branches, mostly for companies.
Is the account number I type sent anywhere?
No. The branch code is worked out in your browser: the account number isn’t sent to us or anyone else, and it never goes into the page’s address. Only the bank you look up goes into the address, so you can share the answer.