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The short answer
An MT103 is the SWIFT message a bank sends for a single customer payment; a copy shows who paid, who was to be paid, the amount, date, banks in the chain, the charge option and the UETR. A Nigerian bank asks for it when an inbound wire has not been credited, so it can locate and apply the funds. Since November 2025 many banks issue a pacs.008 confirmation instead, which carries the same facts.
Your relative calls: the bank in Lagos says it cannot see the money and wants "the MT103". Your bank in London has never mentioned one. Here is what it is and how to get it.
What an MT103 is
MT103 is the SWIFT message type for a single customer credit transfer: an instruction from the payer's bank, directly or through correspondents, to the bank holding the beneficiary's account. A copy is often called an "MT103 confirmation" or "SWIFT copy".
What it shows
| Field | What it contains | Why the Nigerian bank cares |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Sender's reference | Matches the payment in its records |
| 32A | Value date, currency and settled amount | Shows when and how much reached the bank-to-bank stage |
| 33B | Original instructed amount | Explains any difference caused by deductions |
| 50 | Ordering customer (you) | Identifies the remitter |
| 56 / 57 | Intermediary and account-with institution | Shows the route and whether its correspondent was used |
| 59 | Beneficiary: account number and name | The key match to its customer |
| 70 | Remittance information | Often carries the purpose of payment |
| 71A | Charges: OUR, SHA or BEN | Explains who bears fees |
| 71F | Charges deducted by sender and earlier banks | Shows deductions already taken |
| 121 (header) | UETR | Lets any bank in the chain track it |
The field list follows the MT103 standard as published in bank specifications; Swift requires the UETR on MT103 payments.
Reading a confirmation: an example (invented details)
A simplified confirmation might show: reference ABC123456; value date 14 October; settled amount USD 1,980.00; instructed amount USD 2,000.00; ordering customer Adaeze Obi, Manchester; intermediary a US bank; account-with institution a Nigerian bank's SWIFT code; beneficiary account 0123456789, Chukwuemeka Obi; remittance information "family support"; charges SHA; sender's charges USD 20.00; and a 36-character UETR. Read together, these say: $2,000 was instructed, $20 was deducted before the bank-to-bank stage, shared charges apply so further deductions are possible, and the Nigerian bank should look for a payment to account 0123456789 in that name. All of these details are made up for illustration.
Why a Nigerian bank asks for it
- To locate unapplied funds. A wire can reach the bank's correspondent account but not the customer, because the name, account number or purpose is missing or wrong. GTBank, for example, requires the beneficiary's account number and name as captured on its system and the purpose of the remittance for individual inflows.
- To confirm the remitter. The ordering customer details show who sent the money.
- To explain a shortfall. Fields 33B, 71A and 71F show the original amount and charges.
- For records and reporting. GTBank says credits above $10,000 or equivalent are reported to the NDLEA and the CBN.
How to get it
- Ask your bank for the "SWIFT confirmation" or "MT103 copy" of the payment, giving the date, amount and beneficiary.
- If your bank says it no longer issues MT103s, ask for the ISO 20022 payment confirmation instead. The same facts appear under new labels: debtor, creditor, creditor agent, charge bearer and UETR.
- Send it to the recipient by a secure route, and ask them to give it only to their bank.
The ISO 20022 change
According to a payments firm's guide citing bank notices, cross-border payments on Swift must be exchanged in ISO 20022 format from 22 November 2025, and the MT103 has been replaced by the pacs.008 message. Many people and banks still say "MT103" for any wire confirmation, and banks may provide a pacs.008 extract or a plain-language confirmation built from it.
If the bank says the confirmation is not enough
Sometimes the Nigerian bank asks for more: a letter from the sender explaining the purpose, an invoice, or proof of the relationship. That is the bank completing its own checks on a foreign currency inflow, not a sign that anything is wrong. Ask the recipient exactly which document is needed, in writing if possible, and supply only that. If the request is for a fee to be paid before the money is released, stop and check with the bank directly through its official contact details; banks do not ask the sender abroad to pay a release fee by transfer to an individual.
What it does not prove
An MT103 shows that a bank sent a payment instruction. It does not prove that the beneficiary was credited, and it can be faked. Be cautious if someone sends you an "MT103" as proof that money is coming, especially when asked to pay a fee to release it. The Nigeria library covers spotting fake transfer receipts.
For tracing, see tracing with a UETR; for the charge codes, SHA, BEN or OUR.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme customers can generate a regular or a verifiable receipt for a transfer through VerifyDoc.ai; anyone can check that a verifiable one is genuine and unaltered. That helps when a recipient or their bank asks for proof of a payment you made with Send.
Questions people ask
What is an MT103 copy?
A copy of the SWIFT message for a single customer wire, showing payer, beneficiary, amount, date, banks, charges and the UETR.
How do I get an MT103 from my bank?
Ask your bank for the SWIFT or MT103 confirmation for the payment. Some now issue an ISO 20022 confirmation, which carries the same details.
Does an MT103 prove the money was received?
No. It shows the payment was sent. Only the recipient's bank can confirm the credit.
Why does my Nigerian bank need the MT103?
To find the payment, match it to the account and apply it, especially if details were missing or wrong.
Sources
- BNZ: SWIFT MT103 message specification (Standards MT November 2021) · accessed Oct 2026
- Swift: What is a UETR? · accessed Oct 2026
- eco.com support: What is an MT103? Wire confirmations and the move to pacs.008 · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: Foreign currency inward transfer (FX inflow) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.