Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: US bank wants my "clearing code" for wire transfer

  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Johannesburg and Cape Town
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    US bank wants my "clearing code" for wire transfer

    G'day everyone

    I regularly get money from overseas into my personal bank account (a cheque account) with ABSA. Now a client of mine in the United States says that his bank requires a "clearing code" in addition to the SWIFT code to make the wire transfer. A person from my client's bank said that this code is often called the "ZA code" because it starts with the letters "ZA", and is required for all wire transfers to banks in South Africa. Apparently my bank should supply this to me, to supply to my client, otherwise the wire transfer can't be made.

    ABSA's international banking help line could not help me. They claim that there is only a SWIFT code and the branch code, but they have never heard of such a thing as a "ZA code" or a "clearing code".

    Does anyone know what this thing is? Or, what it is called in South Africa, so that I can ask for it by name?

    Thanks
    Samuel (leuce)

  2. #2
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    The most I've ever had to provide is the SWIFT code.

    However, I'm guessing there are two possibilities as to what they might be looking for.

    One might be the branch code. That's simple enough. However, that's just the local clearing system's equivalent of a SWIFT code and would effectively be duplication.

    The other possibility is a little more complicated. When we receive funds from overseas, the local bank has to fill in a form for SARS stating what the funds are for (essentially why we are receiving the funds). Each category has a code. What you would have to do in this instance is get the appropriate code from your bank (or get your hands on one of those forms). Now this would make a little more sense as it would likely mean you would receive your funds faster if this information was provided in the wire transfer.

  3. #3
    New Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Johannesburg and Cape Town
    Posts
    5
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Dave A View Post
    One might be the branch code. That's simple enough. However, that's just the local clearing system's equivalent of a SWIFT code and would effectively be duplication.
    A colleague of mine who had a similar problem was able to get her money by giving the SWIFT-code followed by the branch code, e.g. ABSA-ZA-JJ-632005. But that was for a European client, so I'm not sure if it'll work for the American one as well.

    The other possibility is a little more complicated. When we receive funds from overseas, the local bank has to fill in a form for SARS stating what the funds are for (essentially why we are receiving the funds)...
    The bank usually phones me and asks me what the payment is for, and I say "payment for services rendered", and then they ask me if they can sign the form on my behalf, and I say "yes", and then I get the money. I've also had the bank e-mail me when I wasn't available by telephone, and I was able to answer to their satisfaction by simply replying to the mail.

    It would be very strange if this is the code that the American bank is looking for, though.

  4. #4
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by leuce2 View Post
    A colleague of mine who had a similar problem was able to get her money by giving the SWIFT-code followed by the branch code, e.g. ABSA-ZA-JJ-632005. But that was for a European client, so I'm not sure if it'll work for the American one as well.
    International incoming by wire is much the same from this end, whether it's USA, Europe or elsewhere. If it works from Europe, odds are good it'll be what the USA crowd are looking for too.

  5. #5
    Email problem
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    hi iam vitori and i have read all of your posts and i like all posts and i really want to appreciate you.The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“SWIFT”) operates a worldwide financial messaging network. Messages are securely and reliably exchanged between banks and other financial institutions. SWIFT also markets software and services to financial institutions, much of it for use on the SWIFTNet Network, and ISO 9362 bank identifier codes are popularly known as “SWIFT codes”.It is the unique identification code of a particular bank. These codes are used when transferring money between banks, particularly for international wire transfers, and also for the exchange of other messages between banks. The codes can sometimes be found on account statements.

Similar Threads

  1. Foreign draft fee at Standard Bank
    By Dave A in forum Business Finance Forum
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 05-Mar-11, 12:05 PM
  2. "Grandad Bandit" Serial Bank Robber - Can only happen in the States
    By BBBEE_CompSpec in forum General Chat Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 13-Nov-09, 12:48 AM
  3. standard bank
    By murdock in forum General Business Forum
    Replies: 50
    Last Post: 04-Nov-09, 02:19 PM
  4. Analyzing your Bank Statement On a Daily Basis.
    By sgafc in forum Business Finance Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 20-Apr-09, 03:01 PM
  5. Conditions for sustained high economic growth
    By Dave A in forum South African Politics Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-Jun-08, 04:02 PM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •