Effective Dates: 03/07/2024 - Present Previous | Next

TN 262 (03-24)

GN 02402.325 Coding Hong Kong Bank Data for the MBR

A. Background for coding Hong Kong bank data

This section describes how to code bank data for international direct deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution (FI) in Hong Kong. We store IDD bank data on the MBR in the same fields used for U.S. direct deposit.

Special coding identifies the bank data as a Hong Kong direct deposit. This allows us to route benefit payments through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Hong Kong to the beneficiary's local FI.

If you receive an IDD request in a U.S. domestic (i.e, non-border) field office (FO), forward all appropriate information to the Office of Earnings and International Operations, (OEIO), Division of International Operations (DIO) to process.

For detailed instructions on IDD requests and forwarding information, see

  • •

    GN 02402.201 Background and Policy for Direct Deposit Outside the U.S.

  • •

    GN 02402.205 Direct Deposit Enrollment Outside the U.S.

  • •

    GN 01010.255 Adjudication of Foreign Claims

  • •

    GN 01702.310C Routing of Claims for U.S. Benefits Involving Totalization

B. How we receive IDD bank data

We receive requests to input bank data by mail, phone, or fax in the following formats:

  • •

    Blank check;

  • •

    SSA-1199-OP12 International Direct Deposit Signup Form for Hong Kong; or

  • •

    Any document that contains required banking information.

If you receive information with discrepancies, see the following instructions:

  • •

    GN 00203.020 Identity of Claimants

  • •

    GN 02402.025 Direct Deposit Post Entitlement Interview

C. Multi-country contract

The processing FI in Hong Kong will have a prefix of “71” at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN). The first letter of the Depositor Account Number (DAN) field has the letter “H” assigned to Hong Kong.

D. Overview of IDD for Hong Kong

IDD payments sent to Hong Kong must be in Hong Kong dollar (HKD) accounts at local FIs. The beneficiary must provide complete information to DIO or the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for input. DIO faxes incomplete forms to the FBU that serves Hong Kong. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for the additional information.

E. Description of Hong Kong bank data

Hong Kong bank data consists of up to 15 digits, as follows:

  • •

    A bank/branch code of 6 digits. The first 3 are for the bank, and the last 3 are for the branch.

  • •

    An account number of 6–9 digits. If fewer than 6 digits are provided, the form must be returned to the beneficiary for correction.

On the signup form, the bank/branch code will be the first 6 digits. The account number of 6–9 digits will follow.

F. Procedure for coding Hong Kong bank data

The FRBKC relies on us to provide the complete bank data to ensure correct posting of payments to a customer’s account. If the information is incomplete, the FRBKC rejects the payment and returns the funds to our agency.

You may establish or change IDD bank data for Hong Kong using an SSA system (e.g. Modernized Claims System (MCS), Manual Adjustment Credit and Award Data Entry (MACADE)).

You must then go to ITS.gov to enter the following data:

  • •

    first and last name of the beneficiary

  • •

    payee indicator

  • •

    enrollment status

  • •

    country

  • •

    account type

  • •

    account ownership

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    6-digit bank code (the first 3 digits are the bank code; last 3 are the branch code)

  • •

    9-digit account number

  • •

    beneficiary address

  • •

    reclamation country

1. Process initial award

You must update ITS.gov with the bank account information prior to processing an initial award to ensure that the beneficiary receives payment. If the complete bank account information is not in ITS.gov when the payment processes, the payment rejects and returns to our agency.

2. Add or update bank data using SSA systems

When you add or update IDD bank data using an SSA system (e.g. Post Entitlement Online System (POS), MACADE), you must:

  • •

    update ITS.gov on the same day;

  • •

    enter all POS direct deposit changes according to normal procedures;

  • •

    use procedures outlined in the following chart when processing within four business days of the current operational month (COM) cutoff date.

    Step

    Action

    1

    Are you coding an initial claim?

    If yes, go to step 3.

    If no, go to step 2.

    2

    Is the beneficiary's address on the MBR in a foreign country (PCOC = 8)?

    If no, STOP.

    REASON: The MBR does not accept the IDD information unless the address is in a foreign country.

    If yes, go to step 3.

    3

    Is the beneficiary's account a HKD account in Hong Kong? If no, STOP.

    REASON: Beneficiaries in Hong Kong can only receive IDD payments in HKD accounts.

    If yes, go to step 4.

    4

    To derive the 9-digit RTN for Hong Kong, code as follows:

    • –

      Prefix of 71 (the multi-country prefix SSA and FRBKC designated to use for IDD to Hong Kong),

    • –

      The 6-digit bank/branch code

    • –

      U.S. check digit (obtained through Title II Interactive Comps from the Main Menus 07/Sub Menu 16.

    5

    Code the account type:

    • –

      “S” for savings, or

    • –

      “C” for checking.

    If the beneficiary does not indicate an account type, use a “C” for checking account.

    6

    To code the DAN for Hong Kong, code as follows:

    • –

      “H” designated for Hong Kong, and

    • –

      The 9-digit account number

    7

    You must take action on the same business day to enter into ITS.gov all the information listed in GN 02402.325F.

    You must access ITS.gov or ask a co-worker to update the required information into ITS.gov.

    REMINDER: When information is not available, FRBKC rejects the payment and returns it to our agency.

G. Example of coding Hong Kong direct deposit

A signup form for Hong Kong contains the following information:

  • •

    Bank/branch code: 123456

  • •

    Account Number: 123456789

1. Derive the RTN

The technician enters the information for the RTN.

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    Prefix of “71” (the multi-country prefix for Hong Kong),

  • •

    The 6-digit bank/branch code: "123456"

  • •

    U.S. check digit (i.e., 3) (obtained from the Title II interactive Comps from the Main Menus 07/Sub Menu 16), and

  • •

    The type of account as a “C” for checking or an “S” for savings. If there is no indicated account type, use a “C” for checking.

2. Derive the DAN

The technician codes the DAN.

  • •

    Start with the country code of "H" designated for Hong Kong; and

  • •

    Code the 9-digit account number: "123456789"

3. Obtain the following information

  • •

    RTN: 711234563

  • •

    Checking

  • •

    DAN: H123456789

a. POS reflects the direct deposit information

  • •

    DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 711234563 ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

  • •

    DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: H123456789

  • •

    CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

  • •

    DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

b. The MBR reflects the following information

  • •

    RTN: 711234563

  • •

    DAN: CH123456789

H. References

  • •

    GN 00203.020 Identity of Claimants

  • •

    GN 01010.255 Adjudication of Foreign Claims

  • •

    GN 01702.310C Routing of Claims for U.S. Benefits Involving Totalization

  • •

    GN 02402.025 Direct Deposit Post Entitlement Interview

  • •

    GN 02402.201 Background and Policy for Direct Deposit Outside the U.S.

  • •

    GN 02402.205 Direct Deposit Enrollment Outside the U.S.

  • •

    ITS.gov International Treasury Services (U.S. Treasury system)

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402325
GN 02402.325 - Coding Hong Kong Bank Data for the MBR - 03/07/2024
Batch run: 12/06/2024
Rev:03/07/2024