UPDATE 1-Standard Bank to get $400 mln credit line from IFC

* To use funds to support African trade

* Part of broader World Bank trade facility

(Adds details)

JOHANNESBURG, April 2 (Reuters) - Africa's biggest bank by assets, Standard Bank Group (SBKJ.J), will get a $400 million credit line from the World Bank's private sector branch to fund trade in sub-Saharan Africa, it said on Thursday.

The International Finance Corp (IFC) credit line is part of a $50 billion trade financing programme announced by World Bank President Robert Zoellick on Tuesday, and Standard Bank is one of the first banks to join the programme.

"Standard Bank will receive a $400 million line of credit from the IFC, a member of the World Bank group, to support trade in sub-Saharan Africa and address the shortage of trade finance resulting from the global financial crisis," Standard Bank said in a statement.

Funds from the facility could only be extended to beneficiaries in sub-Saharan Africa but could be used to finance deals between companies on the continent and those in other emerging markets, the statement said. (Reporting by Serena Chaudhry; Editing by Rebecca Harrison)