Effective Dates: 12/11/2025 - Present

Identification Number:
GN 02402 TN 310
Intended Audience:See Transmittal Sheet
Originating Office:DCBFM OFPO
Title:Coding Zambia Bank Data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) - GN 02402.485 - New Policy
Type:POMS Full Transmittals
Program:All Programs
Link To Reference:
 

PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEM

Part GN – General

Chapter 024 – Payments

Subchapter 02 – Direct Deposit - Title II and Title XVI

Transmittal No. 310, 12/11/2025

Audience

PSC: BA, CA, CCRE, CS, DS, ICDS, IES, ILPDS, IPDS, ISRA, PETE, RECONR, SCPS, TSA, TST;
OCO-OEIO: BIES, BTE, CCRE, CR, CTE, FCR, PETL, RECOVR;
OCO-ODO: BTE, CCE, CR, CST, CTE, EHI, LCC, LSC, PAS, PCS, PETL, RC, RCOVTA, RECONR, RECOVR;
FO/TSC: CS, CS TII, CS TXVI, CSR, CTE, FR, OA, OS, RR, TA, TSC-CSR;

Originating Component

OFPPI

Effective Date

Upon Receipt

Background

Effective September 10, 2025, beneficiaries in Zambia may receive payments via International Direct Deposit (IDD). This new POMS informs technicians about coding IDD bank data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) for Title II benefits sent to financial institutions in Zambia.

Summary of Changes

GN 02402.485 Coding Zambia Bank Data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR)

Section A - This section provides background for coding Zambia bank data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR)

Section B - This section describes how we receive IDD bank data.

Section C - This section describes the Routing and Transit Number (RTN) along with the Depositor Account Number (DAN).

Section D - This section describes the currency for Zambia.

Section E - This section describes the country code designated for Zambia.

Section F - This section describes the necessary bank data to enter into ITS.gov.

Section G - This section provides examples of coding Zambia direct deposit.

Section H - This is the referrence section.

 

GN 02402.485 Coding Zambia Bank Data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR)

 

A. Background for coding Zambia bank data on the Master Beneficiary Record

This section describes how to code bank data for international direct deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution (FI) in Zambia. 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 Zambia direct deposit. This allows us to route benefit payments through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Zambia to the beneficiary's local FI.

If you receive an IDD request in a U.S. domestic (i.e, non-border) field office, 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 instructions

  • •

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

  • •

    GN 01702.310 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;

  • •

    Any document that contains required banking information.

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

C. Multi-country contract

The processing FI in Zambia will have a prefix of “74” at the beginning of the Routing and Transit Number (RTN). The first letter of the Depositor Account Number (DAN) field has the letter “V” assigned for Zambia.

D. Overview of IDD for Zambia

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

E. Description of Zambia bank data

The data to code IDD for Zambia comes from banks determined by the FRBKC. The bank data on the MBR reflects 24 characters including the country code of V.

F. Procedure for coding Zambia 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 Zambia using an SSA system (e.g. Modernized Claims System (MCS), Manual Adjustment Credit and Award Data Entry (MACADE), etc.).

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

  • •

    account number

  • •

    account ownership

  • •

    account type

  • •

    address

  • •

    country

  • •

    enrollment status

  • •

    full name of beneficiary (first, middle, and last)

  • •

    payee indicator

  • •

    Society for Worldwide Internet Financial Telecommunication-Business Identifier Code (SWIFT-BIC).

1. Obtain Swift-BIC code from the FI

The SWIFT code contains a maximum of 11 characters:

  • •

    first four characters - bank code (alpha only);

  • •

    next two characters - ISO 3166-1 alpha 2 country code (alpha only);

  • •

    next two characters - location code (alpha and numeric) (passive participants have "1" in the second character); and

  • •

    last three characters - branch code, optional ('XXX' for primary office) (alpha and numeric).

2. Processing 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.

3. Add or updating bank using SSA system

When you add or update IDD bank data using a SSA system (e.g. Post Entitlement Online System (POS), MACADE, etc.), 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 ZMV account in Zambia? If no, STOP.

    REASON: Beneficiaries in Zambia can only receive IDD payments in ZMV accounts.

    If yes, go to step 4.

    4

    The RTN is 740000195 for Zambia. It contains the:

    • –

      Multi-country prefix of “74” for Zambia IDD;

    • –

      U.S. check digit code of “5” at the end of the RTN for all IDD accounts in Zambia.

    No need to obtain the check digit code from Title II Interactive Comps.

    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 Zambia, code:

    • –

      “V” designated for Zambia,

    • –

      13-digit account number.

    NOTE: The account number for Zambia typically contains 13 digits. However, it can contain up to 29 characters.

    7

    You must take action on the same business day to enter into ITS.gov all the information listed in section F of this policy. 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. Examples of coding Zambia direct deposit

The customer provides us with the account number: 1234567890112

1. Derive the RTN

The technician enters the information for the RTN.

  • •

    Code the RTN of 740000195

  • •

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

2. Derive the DAN

The technician codes the DAN.

  • •

    Start with the country code of “V” designated for Zambia; and

  • •

    Code the 13-digit account number “1234567890112” (typical for Zambia).

As a result of the inputs, POS will reflect the following:

  • •

    DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 740000195

    ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C or S

  • •

    DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: V1234567890112

The MBR will reflect the following:

  • •

    RTN- 740000195

  • •

    DAN- CV1234567890112

 

H. References

GN 02402. 201 Background and Policy for Direct Deposit Outside the U.S.


GN 02402 TN 310 - Coding Zambia Bank Data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) - GN 02402.485 - New Policy - 12/11/2025