Effective Dates: 11/14/2019 - Present Previous | Next

TN 153 (11-19)

GN 02402.359 Coding Ghana Bank Data on 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 (FI) in Ghana. The Social Security Administration (SSA) stores bank data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) in the same fields used for U.S. direct deposit. Special coding identifies the data as a Ghana direct deposit and allows SSA to route benefit payments through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and the processor bank in Ghana to the beneficiary's FI.

NOTE: U.S. domestic (i.e., non-border) field offices (FO) should not attempt to process an IDD request for Ghana. Domestic FOs must forward any IDD information to Office of Earnings and International Operations, Division of International Operations (OEIO, DIO) by faxing it into the Paperless Process Center using fax number 877-385-0645.

A. Where to obtain bank data

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

  • •

    a blank check,

  • •

    a Form SSA-1199-OP40 (International Direct Deposit Signup Form for Ghana), see GN 02402.359G 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 processing FI in Ghana will have a “66” at the beginning of the routing and transit number (RTN). The first letter of the depositor account number (DAN) field has the letter “K” assigned for Ghana.

C. Overview of IDD for Ghana

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 Ghana. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for additional information.

D. Description of Ghana direct deposit data

The IDD coding data for Ghana will come from FIs that the FRBKC has determined can receive IDD payments. The FRBKC identified and listed the participating FIs on the International Treasury Services (ITS.gov) website as part of the ITS help file. If you do not have access to ITS.gov, to verify bank codes when processing direct deposit to Ghana banks, refer to the listing in GN 02402.359H in this section.

The IDD coding for Ghana FIs consist of 23 characters, including the country code of “K” for Ghana. The account number contains:

  • •

    a 9-digit RTN 66000BBBX: where “66” is the country code field, positions 2 through 4 are filler “0”s, BBB = 3-digit bank code, X = the check digit code; and

  • •

    a 14-digit DAN KAAAAAAAAAAAAA: where “K” is the country code for Ghana, followed by a 13-digit account number.

NOTE: Account type when enrolling in ITS.gov can be defaulted to checking if there is no indication of whether the account is a checking or a savings account.

E. Procedure for coding Ghana routing and account numbers

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 will reject the payment and return the funds to SSA. Code bank data for Ghana through ITS.gov when establishing or changing IDD or use an SSA system (e.g., POS or MACADE). When using ITS.gov, bank data will post to the MBR within four business days.

1. Initial award processing

If you are working on an initial award, you must update ITS.gov using the bank account information prior to processing the award to ensure that the beneficiary will receive his or her payment. If the complete bank account information is not in ITS.gov when the payment processes, the payment will reject and return to SSA.

2. Adding or updating bank data using SSA systems

If you use an SSA system (e.g., POS or MACADE) to add or update bank data to an MBR, do not input the bank account information into ITS.gov since the information will transfer to ITS.gov the next business day. When coding South Ghana IDD bank data in an SSA system (MCS or, MACADE) 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 yes, go to step 3.

If no, STOP.

REASON: The MBR will not accept the IDD information.

3

Is the beneficiary's account a U.S. dollar account in Ghana? If yes, STOP.

REASON: Beneficiaries in Ghana can only receive IDD payments in Cedi accounts.

If no, go to step 4.

4

To derive the 9-digit RTN for Ghana, follow the below instructions:

  • •

    Code the prefix of 66 (the multi-country prefix SSA and FRBKC designated to use for IDD to Ghana).

  • •

    Code the 3-filler zeros “000”s.

  • •

    Code the 3-digit bank code based on FI name after verifying accuracy against either the ITS.gov help file or the listing in GN 02402.359H in this section.

    When receiving IDD bank information from a beneficiary in Ghana, look up the bank name and city on the bank code listing found in either the ITS.gov help file or in GN 02402.359H of this section.

    If the bank name and city combination are on the list use the assigned pseudo or dummy bank number.

    If the bank name appears on the list with the incorrect city name, observe the 11-digit corresponding Society for Worldwide Interbank Telecommunication (SWIFT) code. If the last 3 characters of the SWIFT are "XXX", this represents the main headquarter or branch for that bank. Use the pseudo bank number assigned to that 11-digit primary SWIFT code ending in "XXX."

    If the bank name is not on the list, inform the Office of Payment and Recovery Policy (OPRP) via email (^OPRP Reporting). OPRP will provide ITS the information to update the bank code listing. Include the following information in the body of the email (request from beneficiary):

Email Heading: Unlisted Financial Institution - IDD

Body:

Full Name of Financial Institution

Street Address

Location

SWIFT Code

Country Code

Currency

 

  • •

    Code the 1-digit check code, (obtained through Title II Interactive Computations).

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 Computations 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 account type indicated, use a “C” for checking account.

6

To derive the DAN for Ghana, follow the below instructions:

  • •

    Code “K” designated for Ghana.

  • •

    Code the13-digit account number.

F. Example of coding Ghana bank data

The beneficiary or recipient provides us with a sign-up form for Ghana containing the following information:

  • •

    Bank Code: 123, and

  • •

    Account Number: 4567890123456.

1. Derive the RTN

To derive the RTN, code the following:

  • •

    prefix of “66” (the multi-country prefix for Ghana),

  • •

    3 filler zeros “000”,

  • •

    3-digit bank code “123” after verifying accuracy against either the ITS.gov help file or the listing in GN 02402.359H in this section,

  • •

    1-digit check code (i.e., 8) (obtained from the Title II interactive Computations from the Main Menus 07/Sub Menu 16), and

  • •

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

2. Derive the DAN

To derive the DAN, code the following:

  • •

    “K” (for Ghana), and

  • •

    13-digit account number 4567890123456.

The coder will obtain the following:

RTN: 660001238

Checking

DAN: K4567890123456

The coding in the Post-entitlement Online System (POS) will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 660001238

ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: K4567890123456

CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-660001238 DAN-CK4567890123456

G. Exhibit of Form SSA-1199-OP40

To view this form click on: SSA-1199-OP40.

H. Ghana bank codes

Bank Codes for Ghana

View In PDF

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402359
GN 02402.359 - Coding Ghana Bank Data on the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) - 11/14/2019
Batch run: 11/20/2019
Rev:11/14/2019