TN 327 (08-26)

GN 02402.486 Coding Benin Bank Data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR)

A. Background for coding Benin 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 Benin. We store IDD bank data on the MBR in the same fields used for U.S. direct deposit.

Special coding identifies the data as a Benin direct deposit. This allows us to route benefit payments through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Benin 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 International Operations, (IO), International Benefits and Processing (IBP) 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 International Direct Deposit Signup Form for Benin; or

  • Any document that contains the 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 for Benin has a prefix of "73" at the beginning of the Routing Transit Number (RTN). The first letter of the Depositor Account Number (DAN) field has the letter “U” assigned for Benin.

D. Overview of IDD for Benin

IDD payments sent to Benin must be in West African franc (XOF) accounts at local FIs. The beneficiary must provide complete information to IBP or the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for input. IBP faxes incomplete forms to the FBU that serves Benin. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for additional information.

E. Description of Benin IDD bank data

The data for coding IDD for Benin comes from banks determined by the FRBKC. The bank data on the MBR consists of 29 characters including Benin country code of U.

F. Procedure for coding Benin IDD bank data

The FRBKC relies on SSA 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 Benin 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;

  • Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication - Business Identifier Code (SWIFT-BIC);

  • beneficiary address – NOTE : Enter the beneficiary’s address in this format: BJ/Town/Name . Start with the ISO country code for Benin (BJ);

  • bank name;

  • bank address.

1. Obtain SWIFT-BIC code from FI

The SWIFT code contains a minimum of 8 characters and a maximum of 11 characters - NOTE: If known, it is highly recommended to use all 11 digits..

  • First four characters - bank code (only letters);

  • Next two characters - ISO 3166-1 alpha-two country code (only letters);

  • Next two characters - location code (letters and digits) (passive participants have "1" in the second character); and

  • Last three characters - branch code, optional ('XXX' for primary office) (letters and digits).

2. Process initial award

Prior to processing an initial award to ensure that the beneficiary receives payment you must update the bank account information in ITS.gov. When the payment is processed, the payment rejects and returns to our agency if the complete bank account information is not in ITS.gov.

3. 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 XOF account in Benin? If no, STOP.

REASON: Beneficiaries in Benin can only receive IDD payments in XOF accounts.

If yes, go to step 4

4

The RTN is 730000134 for Benin. It contains the:

  • Multi-country prefix of “73” for Benin IDD;

  • US check digit code of “4” at the end of the RTN for all IDD accounts in Benin.

NOTE: No need to obtain the check digit code from Tittle 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

Code the DAN as follows:

  • Start with a country code of "U" designated for Benin.

  • 16 digits of the up to 29-digit account number.

7

You must take action on the same business day to enter into ITS.gov all the information listed in GN 02402.486F.

NOTE: If the account number has more than 16 digits, you must code the entire account number in ITS.gov.

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 Benin direct deposit

The customer provides us with the signup form for Benin containing the account number: "12345678901122334455667788990"

1. Derive the RTN

The technician enters the information for the RTN.

  • Code the RTN of 730000134 ;

  • 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 technicians codes the DAN.

  • Start with a country code of "U" designated for Benin;

  • Code 16 digits of the up to 29-digit account number “1234567890112233”

3. Obtain the following information

  • RTN: 730000134

  • Checking

  • DAN: U1234567890112233

a. POS reflects the direct deposit information

  • DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 730000134

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

  • DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: U1234567890112233

  • CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

b. The MBR reflects the following information

  • RTN-730000134

  • DAN- CU1234567890112233

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/0202402486
GN 02402.486 - Coding Benin Bank Data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) - 08/25/2026
Batch run: 08/25/2026
Rev:08/25/2026