SWIFT:Message Types - SWIFT MT

SWIFT MT

SWIFT messages, developed by SWIFT Standards Laboratories Private Limited, consist of five blocks of data including three headers, message content, and a trailer. Message types are crucial to identifying content. All SWIFT messages include the literal "MT" (Message Type). This is followed by a 3-digit number that denotes the message category, group and type. Consider the following example, which is an order to buy or sell via a third party:

  • Example MT304

The first digit (3) represents the category. A category denotes messages that relate to particular financial instruments or services such as Precious Metals (6), Treasury (3), or Travelers Cheques (8). The category denoted by 3 is Treasury Markets.

The second digit (0) represents a group of related parts in a transaction life cycle. The group indicated by 0 is a Financial Institution Transfer.

The third digit (4) is the type that denotes the specific message. There are several hundred message types across the categories. The type represented by 4 is a notification.

Overview of SWIFT MT Categories:

Message Type Description
MT0xx System Messages
MT1xx Customer Payments and Cheques
MT2xx Financial Institution Transfers
MT3xx Treasury Markets
MT4xx Collection and Cash Letters
MT5xx Securities Markets
MT6xx Treasury Markets - Metals and Syndications
MT7xx Documentary Credits and Guarantees
MT8xx Travellers Cheques
MT9xx Cash Management and Customer Status

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