Effective Dates: 07/19/2016 - Present Previous | Next

TN 151 (11-19)

GN 02402.322 Coding Finland Bank Data for the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR)

This section describes how to code bank data for international direct deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution in Finland. Social Security Administration (SSA) stores IDD bank data on the MBR in the same fields used for United States (U.S.) direct deposit. Special coding identifies the data as Finland direct deposit (IDD) and allows benefit payments to route through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Finland to the beneficiary's FI.

NOTE: U.S. domestic (i.e., non-border) field offices (FOs) should not attempt to process an IDD request for this country. U.S. domestic FOs must forward all appropriate information to the Office of Earnings and International Operations, Division of International Operations (OEIO, DIO) for processing (For more information on forwarding IDD information, see GN 02402.205C, GN 01010.255, and GN 01702.310C).

A. How we receive IDD bank data

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

  • •

    a blank check,

  • •

    an International Direct Deposit Signup Form for Finland (SSA-1199-OP10) (see GN 02402.322G in this section), or

  • •

    any document that contains the required banking information.

NOTE: If upon receipt of the information, there are any discrepancies, follow instructions in GN 00203.020 and GN 02402.025.

B. Multi-country contract

The processor bank in Finland 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 “G” assigned for Finland.

C. Overview of IDD for Finland

The beneficiary must provide complete information to DIO or the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for input. DIO will fax incomplete forms to the FBU that serves Finland. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for additional information.

D. Description - Finland bank data

The data for coding IDD for Finland will come from the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) provided to the beneficiary from his or her FI. The IBAN will be18 characters. However, the IDD bank data reflected on the MBR will consist of 21 characters. Technicians will use the IBAN to derive the RTN and DAN when processing an IDD request.

E. Policy for coding Finland 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 SSA. When establishing or changing IDD bank data for Finland, you can use an SSA system (i.e. Modernized Claims System (MCS), Manual Adjustment Credit and Award Data Entry (MACADE), etc.). However, you must go to ITS.govto enter the full IBAN and Society for Worldwide Internet Financial Telecommunication-Business Identifier Code (SWIFT-BIC). If the complete bank account information is not in ITS.gov when the payment processes, the payment rejects and returns to SSA. When using ITS.gov, bank data posts to the MBR within four business days.

The SWIFT code consists of 8 to 11 alphanumeric characters. When an 8-digit code is given, it refers to the primary office:

  • •

    First 4 characters - bank code (only letters)

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    Next 2 characters - ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (only letters)

  • •

    Next 2 characters - location code (letters and digits) (passive participant will have "1" in the second character)

  • •

    Last 3 characters - branch code, optional ('XXX' for primary office) (letters and digits)

1. Initial award processing of IDD

Secure IBAN and SWIFT-BIC coding from the beneficiary at the time of filing. The FBU inputs an initial IDD claim if the beneficiary elects the option of direct deposit. All initial IDD claims that an FBU takes for Finland require input into ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. MCS, MACADE, etc.) on the same day. You must complete all initial claims that the International Benefits Office (IBO) takes. You must input all initial claims involving Finland IDD into ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. MCS, MACADE, etc.) on the same day.

NOTE: If there is dire need or hardship involved, advise the beneficiary of the option of initiating payment via a paper check. Inform the beneficiary that the bank may charge for cashing the check. If the beneficiary chooses the option of paper check, the FBU documents and processes the initial claim.

2. Adding or updating bank data using SSA systems

All changes to direct deposit information for Finland require input into ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. Post Entitlement Online System (POS), MACADE, etc…) on the same day. Enter all POS direct deposit changes according to normal procedures. When coding IDD bank data in an SSA system for Finland within four business days of the current operational month (COM) cutoff date, use the procedure outlined in the following chart:

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 will not accept IDD unless the address is in a foreign country.

If yes, go to step 3.

3

Is the beneficiary's account a U.S. dollar account at an FI in Finland? If yes, STOP.

REASON: Beneficiaries in Finland can only receive IDD payments in Euro accounts.

If no, go to step 4.

4

Code the RTN field as follows:

  • •

    Start with 71, the prefix assigned to the processor bank in Finland.

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    Code three zeros “000”

  • •

    Code the three digit of bank code.

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    Code the U.S. check digit. Obtain the U.S. check digit by using the Check Digit program on Title II/Interactive Comps.

NOTE: The final digit is the U.S. check digit Code and is subject to change. Obtain check digit code through the Title II Interactive Comps from the Main Menus 07/Sub Menu 16.

5

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

6

Code the DAN as follows:

  • •

    Start with G, the letter designated to Finland.

  • •

    Code the 11-digit bank account number.

7

All IDD payments made in Euros must include the applicable IBAN and SWIFT/BIC codes. Technicians must code this information in ITS.gov and an SSA system (i.e. MACADE, MCS) on the same day.

F. Example - coding Finland IDD

The customer provides us with a signup form for Finland containing the following information: FI2112345600000785

NOTE: The first 2 characters of the Finland IBAN are “FI”, which represents the International Organizational for Standardization (ISO) country code. The third and fourth characters of the IBAN are the IBAN check digits. The technician should never code the IBAN ISO country code or check digit to the MBR. The next three characters of the IBAN represent the 3-digit bank code. The last 11 characters represent the 11-digit account number.

1. Derive the RTN as follows

Code the prefix of 71 (SSA designated prefix for IDD).

Code three zeros “000”

Code the three digit bank code “123”;

Code the one-digit check code (i.e., 8) (obtained from the Title II interactive Comps from the Main Menus 07/Sub Menu 16);

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 as follows

Code the letter “G” for Finland

Code the 11-digit account number “45600000785”

3. Coding in ITS.gov will reflect:

IBAN: FI2112345600000785 SWIFT: Full code (example: BEPOIT21020)

The technician will obtain the following:

RTN: 710001238

Checking

DAN: G45600000785

The coding in an SSA System will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 710001238

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: G45600000785

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-710001238 DAN- CG45600000785

G. Exhibit - IDD enrollment form for Finland

To view this form click on: SSA-1199-OP10

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402322
GN 02402.322 - Coding Finland Bank Data for the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) - 07/19/2016
Batch run: 11/13/2019
Rev:07/19/2016