UAE account holders: important information for ACH transactions submitted via File Upload

Last updated: 27 May 2019

On 5 April 2019, we updated our systems to better facilitate ACH transactions that are submitted via HSBCnet File Upload and HSBC Connect services from accounts in the UAE. As part of this update, you can now submit ACH instructions that contain a SWIFT BIC as well as a Local Clearing Code in the beneficiary bank identifier fields.

This change applies to XML V2 or V3 formatted files that are uploaded using File Level Authorisation (FLA).

If you choose to include both the SWIFT BIC and a Local Clearing Code for an ACH payment, the system will use the SWIFT BIC to identify the beneficiary’s financial institution and disregard the Local Clearing Code. For these payments, please make sure that the SWIFT BIC you include is valid or your payment will be rejected, even if the Local Clearing Code is correct.

Adding the SWIFT BIC (in addition to the Local Clearing Code) to your ACH payment files is optional.

Note: please use the Local Clearing Code only for the following payment types:*

Wages Protections System (WPS) payments
Pension payments
ACH payment files uploaded using Instruction Level Authorisation (ILA)

Find out more

If you have any questions, please contact your local HSBCnet Support Centre. To obtain Message Implementation Guides (MIG) for file formatting, please contact your Client Services representative.

* Including a SWIFT BIC may result in these types of payments being rejected.