Article facts
| Field | Visible value |
|---|---|
| Can the credited amount differ from the sent amount? | Yes |
| Who can deduct | Correspondent, intermediary and beneficiary institutions |
| Is that within 2PayApp's control? | No |
| What affects timing and amount | Currencies, route, correspondents, fee instructions, beneficiary-bank charges, compliance reviews |
| Applies to | International payments over SWIFT |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-09 |
Why this happens
SWIFT is a messaging network used between financial institutions. A payment may be routed through one or more correspondent institutions before it reaches the beneficiary's bank. Each institution in that chain may apply a charge for its part, and the beneficiary bank may apply one of its own.
None of those charges is set by 2PayApp, and none of them is visible in advance as a single figure.
What determines the outcome
- the currencies involved;
- the payment route;
- the correspondent institutions on that route;
- the fee instructions applied to the payment;
- charges applied by the beneficiary bank;
- compliance reviews along the way.
Practical steps
- Agree with your counterparty who bears the charges, and reflect it in the fee instruction.
- If a contract requires an exact amount to be received, plan for deductions rather than discovering them at reconciliation.
- Where a local or regional network is available and appropriate for the currency and destination, it is generally more predictable — see Which rail should my business use?.
- Keep the payment reference and confirmation; they are what an investigation works from.
Frequently asked questions
Can intermediary banks charge fees? Yes. Correspondent, intermediary or beneficiary institutions may apply charges.
Can you tell us the total cost in advance? Third-party charges outside our control cannot be quoted in advance. Your own applicable fees are in your pricing schedule.
Can the payment be traced? A payment investigation can be raised. Additional fees may apply to payment investigations.
Is a short credit the same as a failed payment? No. The payment completed; deductions were applied along the route.
This article is explanatory. Third-party charges are outside 2PayApp's control and are not part of its pricing schedule.