Understanding Structure of SWIFT

SWIFT code is an 8 to 11 Digit Code, depending upon the country. Let’s suppose the SWIFT Code is ABCD-XY-MN-123.

1. Bank Code: Where the First four letter signifies the Bank Code, i.e., ABCD

2. Country Code: The next two letter signifies Country Code, i.e., XY

3. Location Code: The next two letters signify Location Code, i.e., MN

4. Branch Code: The next three letters signify Branch Code, i.e., 123

SWIFT: Full Form, Functions and Importance

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What is SWIFT?

SWIFT can be described as a system used for transferring information, like banking orders or banking instructions to execute any financial transaction between two different countries through financial intermediaries. SWIFT, introduced in 1973, is a messaging system used by banks and other financial institutions all over the world. SWIFT does not actually transfer money. It is important to understand that SWIFT is not any finance house that is involved in any advancing of loans or any accepting of money from users, it rather provides messaging infrastructure for other financial institutions to execute Cross-Border transactions effectively and efficiently....

History of Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT)

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How does SWIFT Work?

Before SWIFT, the world used telegraphic transfer to transfer funds internationally. This system was very slow as it was majorly based on human intervention and it usually takes two to four days to complete a transfer, it involved describing each transaction with sentences instead of extremely complex codes. The need of the globe was a framework that could change this slow and complex functioning of cross-border transactions and hence SWIFT was founded. The SWIFT platform headquartered in Belgium is controlled by the G-10 countries as well as the European Central Bank. SWIFT is a global member-owned cooperative that was founded in 1973 by 239 banks from 15 countries it went live with its messaging services in 1977 replacing the old telex technology that was then widely used by banks to communicate instructions. After that SWIFT was widely used due to its mass reach and efficient framework, it became a business practice to use SWIFT for any cross-border transaction, it gained massive business reach in the 1990s when the globe was entering the era of financial globalisation....

Understanding Structure of SWIFT

1. SWIFT enables the payee to transfer money to an account located in another bank in another country to uniquely identify a financial institution....

Functions of SWIFT

SWIFT code is an 8 to 11 Digit Code, depending upon the country. Let’s suppose the SWIFT Code is ABCD-XY-MN-123....

Importance of SWIFT

A wide range of functions are performed by SWIFT for the financial industry:...

Difference between SWIFT and IBAN

SWIFT is widely used by Banks, Foreign Investors, Asset Management Companies, Depositories, etc. SWIFT has proved to be an important component for carrying their business operations effectively. Some of the key importance of SWIFT to the finance industry are:...