To receive an international bank transfer into a South African account, first confirm the receiving instructions with your bank. Give the sender only the account and bank details required for that route. If your bank asks you to state the reason for the payment, supply documents or make a currency-conversion decision, follow that instruction through the bank’s official channel.
The process is not identical at every bank. Do not copy a SWIFT code, deadline, document list or fee from another bank’s instructions.
First identify how the money is being sent
This guide covers an incoming international bank transfer into an existing South African bank account. It does not cover opening a foreign-currency account, receiving cash from a remittance agent, linking a wallet such as PayPal or Wise, or sending money out of South Africa.
Ask the sender which route they plan to use. If they are making a bank transfer, get the current receiving instructions from your bank before the sender confirms it. A remittance or wallet service may require a different recipient process and may not use your normal bank-account details in the same way.
Details to confirm before the sender pays
Your bank’s official instructions are the authority for the exact fields. Copy the details from that route rather than relying on a generic list. Before the sender confirms the transfer, check the recipient name, account number, currency, payment reference and any bank identifier the route requests.
Do not guess a SWIFT or BIC code. Use the code in your bank’s current official instructions or confirm it with the bank through an official channel. If the bank asks for the reason for the payment or supporting documents, answer for the actual transaction.
How to receive the payment
- Get your bank’s current receiving instructions. Use the bank’s official app, website, branch or verified support channel.
- Send the required details securely. Check the account name, account number, bank identifier, currency and payment reference before the sender pays.
- Ask the sender to keep the transfer record. The sender should retain the date, amount, currency, beneficiary details and transaction or payment reference shown by the sending provider.
- Check for a bank request. If your bank asks you to state the reason for the funds, make a conversion decision or supply documents, follow the instruction through the bank’s official app, website, branch or verified support channel.
- Check your own account. Confirm through your bank whether the expected credit is visible. Do not rely only on a message or screenshot from the sender.
Current bank examples
FNB Global Receipts
FNB calls its incoming route Global Receipts. FNB currently publishes FIRNZAJJ as its SWIFT code for this route. Its page says the recipient should know the reason for the funds and may need to supply additional documents, depending on the transaction.
FNB also says the recipient has up to 30 days to convert the funds into rand before they are returned to the originating sender. This is an FNB-specific instruction, not a deadline that should be assumed for every South African bank. FNB lists Online Banking, its app, a call centre and branches as available routes for handling Global Receipts.
Capitec international payments
Capitec’s current international-payments page directs customers to sign in to the app, tap Transact, choose International payments, and then choose Receive a payment. Follow the on-screen instructions.
These examples show why the recipient should use their own bank’s process. An FNB instruction should not be treated as a Capitec, Standard Bank, Absa or Nedbank rule.
Fees, exchange rates and timing
Check the fee, exchange rate and expected timing for the exact sending and receiving route before the sender confirms the payment. FNB and Capitec use different receiving processes, so one bank’s terms should not be applied to another. Check:
- the sending provider’s fee and the amount it says will be sent;
- the receiving bank’s current fee, if any;
- the currency the sending service says it will send;
- the exchange rate or conversion choice shown by the receiving bank; and
- any deadline or action displayed by the recipient’s bank.
The FNB and Capitec pages above do not provide one arrival time for every South African bank and international-transfer route. Check the status and expected next step with the sending provider and recipient bank rather than relying on a fixed two-day or five-day promise from a general article.
If the money has not arrived
- Compare the beneficiary name, account number, bank identifier, currency and reference with the receiving instructions.
- Ask the sender for the transaction reference and the status shown by the sending bank or provider.
- Check whether your bank has sent a request for a reason, conversion decision or supporting document.
- Contact the receiving bank through its official app, website, branch or verified contact route and provide the transfer details it requests.
- If the sending provider shows a rejection or return, the sender should follow up with that provider.
Keep the transaction reference and use the official channels of the sending and receiving institutions when asking about the payment.
Protect your banking information
Capitec’s current fraud centre tells customers to keep personal and banking information private, avoid links asking for banking information, and use the Capitec app to confirm whether a caller is really from Capitec. It also warns against upfront fees for a job, prize, loan or inheritance.
If a message about an overseas payment asks for banking information or an upfront fee, stop and verify it through your own bank’s official fraud or support route. Do not use the contact details supplied in the suspicious message.
Official sources
Information current on 13 August 2026. Bank routes, fees, exchange rates, required information and availability can change. Confirm the instructions shown by the recipient’s bank before the sender transfers money.