Format description

SWIFT FIN MT103

SWIFT for Corporates (S4C)
 Contents

1. MT103: SINGLE CUSTOMER CREDIT TRANSFER 3

1.1 Introduction 3
1.2 General information 3
1.3 Format Specification 3
2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION 4
APPENDIX 1: CLEARING SYSTEM CODE 9
CHANGELOG 10

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 2
 1. MT103: Single Customer Credit Transfer

1.1 Introduction

This document describes the Rabobank specific requirements for fields within the MT103 standard format
structure.

1.2 General information

The MT 103 is the standard used in cross-border traffic for single customer credit transfers using the SWIFT
network validated by a restricted set of fields. The MT103 is only available to (Non-Banking)
Financial Institutions.

Rabobank only accepts the MT103 and the MT103+ versions, where no registration in a Message Use Group
(MUG) is necessary. Rabobank does not accept Extended Remittance Information MUG in field 77T for which
registration in a MUG is necessary.

The MT103 can be used to initiate:

 SEPA Instant Credit Transfers: payments in EUR currency to a beneficiary reachable via the SCT Inst
scheme
 Europayments: payments in EUR currency to a beneficiary in a SEPA country.
 Urgent Domestic Europayments: urgent payments in EUR currency between Dutch bank
accounts.
 Urgent Europayments: urgent payments in EUR currency to a beneficiary in a SEPA country.
 Worldpayments: payments in foreign currency and EUR currency outside the SEPA area.

1.3 Format Specification

The MT103 should be formatted according to the standards indicated in the user handbook on
www.swift.com. However, for a number of fields Rabobank applies specific rules which are indicated below in
section “Text Block”. If there are no comments filled for a specific field, the standard SWIFT description applies.

Rabobank uses the Message Priority in the Application Header to determine if the requested payment must
be executed with normal or urgent priority.

Message Priority in the Application Header

The Application Header (Block 2) appears on all input messages (Service Identifier 01). The input Application
Header contains the type of message, its addressee, and optional sending parameters.

One of the optional parameters is the Message Priority. If the payment must be processed with urgent priority,
the Message Priority in the Application Header must be filled with the value “U”. If not, use value “N”.
For example the MT103 header for recipient RABONL2U requesting urgent processing:
{2:I103RABONL2UXXXXU3003}

Please note: Extra costs may be charged for urgent processing of your payments.

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 3
 2. Technical description

Format, Content, Options

Mandatory / Optional

[ ]=optional
!=fixed length
Field / Subfield

a=text
x=alphanumeric
Fieldname

Remarks
d=numeric with decimal
separator
n=numeric
20 M Sender’s Reference 16x Must be unique per message, duplicates are
rejected.
13C O Time Indication /8c/4!n1!x4!n (Code)(Time indica- If present, this field is ignored.
tion)(Sign)(Time offset)
23B M Bank Operation Code 4!c Code Only value CRED is allowed. Other value will be
rejected.
23E O Instructing party 4!c[/30x] (Instruction Code) - Only SDVA is accepted. When SDVA is provided,
(Additional Infor- the payment will be processed urgently.
mation) It is also possible to request urgent processing by
providing value “U” as Message Priority in the
Application Header as described on the previous
page.
- All other codes are ignored.
26T O Transaction Type Code 3!c (Code) If present, this field is ignored.

32A M Value Date / Currency / 6!n3!a15d (Date)(ISO currency Value date

Interbank Settled Amount code)(Amount) The provided date will be used as requested
execution date, not as value date.
The date may be future dated at a maximum of 30
calendar days ahead from the message date.
Messages with a value date more than 5 days in
the past are rejected.

Note: Future dated requests for transfer

cannot be cancelled!

Amount
Decimal separator is a comma. The comma is
mandatory and is included in the max. length.
33B O Currency / Instructed 3!a15d (Currency)(Amount) If present, this field is ignored.
Amount
36 O Exchange Rate 12d If present, this field is ignored.

50a M Ordering Customer Option A: - Option A is rejected.

[/34x] (Account) - Options F (preferred) and K are accepted.
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code) - Providing IBAN and name are mandatory and
must be FATF–16 compliant.
Option F: - If option F is used, the Party Identifier must be
/34x (Party Identifier) filled with IBAN.
4*35x (Name and Address) - It is optional to provide the ISO currency code of
the account. If provided the notation is:
Option K: <IBAN><one space><ISO currency code>

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 4
 Format, Content, Options
Mandatory / Optional

[ ]=optional
!=fixed length
Field / Subfield

a=text
x=alphanumeric
Fieldname

Remarks
d=numeric with decimal
separator
n=numeric
/34x (Account) - The values of 50a and 53a are the same. Thus, in
4*35x (Name and Address) an outgoing payment, the value in these fields is
mapped to Debtor in a Euro-payment or to Order-
ing Customer in a Worldpayment.

Note1: if the currency of the account is absent,

we use the currency from field 32B. If there is no
account in that currency, the payment will be
rejected, else provide the currency of the ac-
count which has to be debited.
Note2:
- If IBAN in field 50a differs from field 53a, IBAN in
field 50a is used.
- If IBAN in field 50a is invalid, IBAN in field 53a is
used.
- If IBAN in field 50a and 53a are both invalid, the
message is rejected.

51A O Sending Institution [/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier) If present, this field is ignored.
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code)
52a O Ordering Institution Option A: If present, this field is ignored.
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier)
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code)

Option D:
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier)
4*35x (Name and Address)
53a M Sender’s Correspondent Option A: - This is an optional field but it is mandatory for
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier) Rabobank.
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code) - Options A, B and D are accepted.
- Always supply IBAN as ‘Party identifier’ or else this
Option B: message will be rejected.
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier) - It is optional to provide the ISO currency code of
[35x] (Location) the account. If provided the notation is:
<IBAN><one space><ISO currency code>
Option D: - If option D is used, provide the name of the
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier) ordering customer.
4*35x (Name and Address) - If option D is used, the last three characters of this
field must be filled with one space followed with
the ISO country code of the Ordering Customer.
- The values of 50a and 53a are the same. Thus, in
an outgoing payment, the value in these fields is
mapped to Debtor in a Europayment or to
Ordering Customer in a Worldpayment.

Note1: if the currency of the account is absent,

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 5
 Format, Content, Options
Mandatory / Optional

[ ]=optional
!=fixed length
Field / Subfield

a=text
x=alphanumeric
Fieldname

Remarks
d=numeric with decimal
separator
n=numeric
we use the currency from field 32B. If there is no
account in that currency, the payment will be
rejected, else provide the currency of the
account which has to be debited.
Note2:
- If IBAN in field 50a differs from field 53a, IBAN in
field 50a is used.
- If IBAN in field 50a is invalid, IBAN in field 53a is
used.
- If IBAN in field 50a and 53a are both invalid, the
message is rejected.
54a O Receiver’s Correspon- Option A: If present, this field is ignored.
dent [/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier)
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code)

Option B:
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier)
[35x] (Location)

Option D:
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier)
4*35x (Name and Address)

55a O Third Reimbursement Option A: If present, this field is ignored.

Institution [/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier)
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code)

Option B:
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier)
[35x] (Location)

Option D: (Party Identifier)

[/1!a][/34x] (Name and Address)
4*35x
56a O Intermediary Institution Option A: - Option D is ignored.
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier) - Options A and C are accepted.
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code) - If Party Identifier is present, it must be filled with
a valid Clearing System Code, else the message
Option C: will be rejected. For more information, see
/34x (Party Identifier) Appendix 1.
- If BIC is provided, it must be valid else the mes-
Option D: sage is rejected.
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier) - For Europayments (payments within E.E.A. in EUR
4*35x (Name and Address) currency), this field is ignored.
- Rabobank uses its own correspondent network
to transfer the credit to the bank of the benefi-

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 6
 Format, Content, Options
Mandatory / Optional

[ ]=optional
!=fixed length
Field / Subfield

a=text
x=alphanumeric
Fieldname

Remarks
d=numeric with decimal
separator
n=numeric
ciary. However, field 56 may be used to instruct
Rabobank to use a different correspondent bank.
57a M Account with Option A: - This is an optional field but it is mandatory for
Institution [/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier) Rabobank.
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code) - Option D is rejected.
- Options A (preferred), B and C are accepted.
Option B: - If Party Identifier is present, it must be filled with
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier) a valid Clearing System Code, else the message
[35x] (Location) will be rejected.
- If BIC is provided, it must be valid else the mes-
Option C: sage is rejected.
/34x (Party Identifier)

Option D:
[/1!a][/34x] (Party Identifier)
4*35x (Name and Address)
59a M Beneficiary Customer No letter - Options No letter, A and F are accepted.
option: - Options A and F are highly recommended.
[/34x] (Account) - It is mandatory to provide account and name,
4*35x (Name and Address) else the message will be rejected.
- Within the E.E.A. an IBAN is always mandatory in
Option A: case of E.E.A. currencies.
[/1!a][/34x] (Account) - For payments to other countries please see
4!a2!a2!c[3!c] (Identifier Code) our website to see if IBAN is mandatory or
recommended. Information is described per
Option F: country:
[/34x] (Account) https://www.rabobank.nl/particulieren/betalen/be
4*(1!n/33x) (Number/Name and talen-buitenland/betalingsinformatie/ (Dutch
Address Details) language only).
- Providing 2-3 lines with address details is
optional but strongly recommended to prevent
delay or rejection of the payment.
- The ISO country code must be filled at the end of
the last line (3 or 4). The country code must be
preceded with a single space.

Note: it is not possible to transfer from and to the

same account. The payment will be rejected.

70 O Remittance Information 4*35x (Narrative) Remittance information for the beneficiary.

71A M Details of Charges 3!a (Code) For payments in all currencies code SHA (shared
costs) must be provided in case the beneficiary’s
bank and the remitter's bank are located in the
E.E.A, else the message is rejected.
71F O Sender’s Charges 3!a15d (Currency)(Amount) This field is ignored.

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 7
 Format, Content, Options
Mandatory / Optional

[ ]=optional
!=fixed length
Field / Subfield

a=text
x=alphanumeric
Fieldname

Remarks
d=numeric with decimal
separator
n=numeric
71G O Receiver’s Charges 3!a15d (Currency)(Amount) This field is ignored.

72 O Sender to Reciever Infor- 6*35x (Narrative) For Worldpayments the original content of field 72
mation is passed on in field 72 of the resulting outgoing
MT103. Rabobank does not act on any of the
information in field 72 in the incoming MT103.

If this field is used for Europayments the content is

ignored.
77B O Regulatory Reporting 3*35x (Narrative) If present, this field is ignored.

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 8
 Appendix 1: Clearing System Code
If field 57a is provided with a Party Identifier, it must meet the following instructions:
<2-lettercode Party Identifier><Member Identification>

Example:
- Bank of New York Mellon. Routing number is 021000018:
This must be provided as Party Identifier: FW021000018

- Standard Chartered Bank branch London. Sort Code is 60-91-04.

This must be provided as Party Identifier: SC609104

Country Party Identifier Member Identification

Austria AT Fixed length 6 Numbers
Australia AU Fixed length 5 Numbers
Germany BL Fixed length 8 Numbers
Canada CC Fixed length 9 Numbers
China CN Fixed length 12 Numbers
Spain ES Length 8 or 9 Numbers
United States FW Fixed length 9 Numbers
Greece GR Fixed length 7 Numbers
Hong Kong HK Fixed length 3 Numbers
Ireland IE Fixed length 6 Numbers
India IN Fixed length 11 Numbers and letters
Italy IT Fixed length 10 Numbers
New Zealand NZ Fixed length 6 Numbers
Poland PL Fixed length 8 Numbers
Portugal PT Fixed length 8 Numbers
United Kingdom SC Fixed length 6 Numbers
Russia RU Fixed length 9 Numbers
South Africa ZA Fixed length 6 Numbers
Switserland SW Length 3 or 5 Numbers

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 9
 Changelog

Title : Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 – SWIFT for Corporates (S4C)
Version : 2.0.1
Date : 15-02-2021
Contact : corporatesupport@rabobank.com

Date Version Change Change reason

10-09-2020 2.0 Removed: OBOP payments Change

10-09-2020 2.0 Field 23E: Only SDVA is accepted. When SDVA is provided, the pay- Extension
ment will be processed urgently.
10-09-2020 2.0 Field 32A value date: Change
- the provided date will be used as requested execution date.
- it is allowed to provide a date max. 5 days in the past instead of zero.
Exceeding the maximum days will lead to rejection of the message.
10-09-2020 2.0 Field 50a and field 53a: Change
- providing IBAN is mandatory.
- providing the ISO country code is optional.
- providing the ISO currency code is optional. Please read the added
note1.
- note2 added ‘if the IBAN in field 50a differs from field 53a, IBAN in
field 50a is used.’
10-09-2020 2.0 Field 56a: option D is ignored instead of accepted. Change

10-09-2020 2.0 Field 57a: following note removed “Please note: when field 59a Change
contains an IBAN then do not provide a national bank code in field 57a
as Party Identifier. Providing both an IBAN in 59a and a Party Identifier
in 57a results in a rejection of your payment.”
10-09-2020 2.0 Field 59a: webpage added where payment information per Improvement
country can be found.
10-09-2020 2.0 Field 59a: providing 2-3 lines of address details is optional but strongly Change
recommended to prevent delay or rejection of the payment.
10-09-2020 2.0 Field 59a: note added ‘it is not possible to transfer from and to the Clarification
same account. The payment will be rejected.’
10-09-2020 2.0 Field 71A: cost option SHA (=shared) must be used for payments in all Correction
currencies instead of only EEA currencies.
10-09-2020 2.0 Field 72: if supplied for Europayments, the content is ignored instead Change
of rejected.
10-09-2020 2.0 Appendix 1: Clearing System Code added. Improvement

15-02-2021 2.0.1. Chapter 1.2: list of payment types updated. Improvement

15-02-2021 2.0.1. Field 32A: Rabobank uses the provided date as requested execu- Change
tion date, not as value date.

Rabobank Format description SWIFT FIN MT103 February 2021 | Version 2.0.1 10