If you’re involved in an international money transfer, you’ve likely heard the term “SWIFT code” once or twice. SWIFT stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, an international organization founded in 1973 that provides secure messaging services to its members.
These unique 8-11 digit codes are used to identify financial institutions during international transfers and are essential to ensure a smooth transaction. SWIFT codes are assigned in two parts: a country code (two letters), followed by a branch identifier (six digits).
The SWIFT code for each bank is unique, so it’s important that you provide the correct one when making a transfer. When the wrong SWIFT code is provided, the funds may be misdirected to the incorrect bank or account. In this case, both banks involved in your transaction will be responsible for resolving any issues arising from an incorrect SWIFT code submission and recovering lost funds if necessary.
And if a client does not include a valid SWIFT code with their payment instructions then this can cause delays with processing payments which could lead to additional fees being charged by both sender and receiver banks.
It’s important to verify the recipient’s SWIFT code before initiating a transfer to minimize the risk of a misdirected transfer. Check out these common mistakes to avoid when using SWIFT codes to limit the risk of a misdirected transfer.
You can typically find your bank’s SWIFT code on the bank’s website or by contacting the bank directly. Some bank SWIFT codes lists are also available online, making it easy to find the correct code for your transfer.
Another way to find a SWIFT code is by contacting the recipient’s bank directly. You can call or email them with your question, and they will be able to provide you with the information you need.
It’s always a good idea to double-check the code with the recipient’s bank before sending money to ensure there’s no mistakes and minimize the likelihood of having your payments delayed or fail.
If you’re looking for a way to send payments without having to worry about SWIFT codes or providing hard-to-find banking details, Veem is a unique payment solution that allows you to do so.
With our platform, you can send domestic and international transfers in 30 seconds with just an email address–no bank account info required! You can even choose to enter your recipient’s banking information for them, should you wish to do so. Check out how Veem works.
You can generally find your bank’s SWIFT code on their website or online. Another way to find a SWIFT code is by contacting the recipient’s bank directly. Be sure to verify the code with the recipient’s bank before sending money to avoid delays, interruptions, or failures. Or you could eliminate the need to manually enter SWIFT codes entirely by adopting a solution like Veem. Ready to learn more about simplifying your business payment process? Book a demo with Veem to get started.
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