Last year, SWIFT undertook a Proof of Value exercise with JPMorgan and DBS using FileAct and MT759 to help facilitate LC presentation, notify of the documents arrival, and link the documents to the associated LC. SWIFT believe that other customers might be able to use these tools to overcome hurdles they’re facing in these extraordinary times.
Fee free
In recognition of the exceptional circumstances, SWIFT will support the trade community by providing FileAct and MT759 messages free of charge to help expedite LC document presentation for the next 6 months. These will enable banks and SWIFT-connected corporates to move LC documentation electronically, quickly, safely and reliably during pandemic restrictions.
While SWIFT’s solution will not resolve all the complexities associated with digitizing trade, they hope that it will go some way to help.
Global reach and scale
The SWIFT platform facilitates over 170 million FileActs per year across over 123 countries – with reach into more.
Thousands of BICs are subscribed to FileAct and for those that aren’t they can sign up for free using a form on SWIFT.com
Connecting the end to end transaction
SWIFT advise use of the MT759 alongside FileAct to help the community to both notify of, and link, the documents associated with the Letter of Credit.
Solution leverages existing security, resiliency and reliability
Secure file transfer: authentication, confidentiality and built in integrity controls
Maximum file size: Up to 2 GB per exchanged file.
Role-based access control: allows participants to control who in their institution can access the application
Operational Efficiency: Store & Forward: the sender and the receiver can operate independently
The new implementation guide - for facilitating LC presentation over SWIFT - has now been published on SWIFT Knowledge Centre:
https://www2.swift.com/knowledgecentre/products/SWIFT%20for%20Trade%20Finance
However, it is available to SWIFT customers only (i.e., log in required).
SWIFT also has a directory listing the participants to the SWIFTNet service, which is available via www.swift.com