TN 44 (11-11)

A. Introduction for coding Indian bank data

This section describes how to code bank data for International Direct Deposit (IDD) of Title II benefits to a financial institution (FI) in India. We store Indian bank account data on the MBR in the same fields used for U.S. direct deposit. Benefit payments, routed through the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (FRBKC) and a contractor bank to the beneficiary's FI, use special coding to identify the data as IDD for India.

We receive requests to input bank data by mail, phone, fax, or e-mail in the following formats:

• a blank check,

• an SSA-1199 direct deposit signup form for India (To print a copy of the form see GN 02402.344G), or

• any documents that contain the required banking information

NOTE: U.S. domestic (i.e., non-border) field offices (FOs) should not attempt to process an IDD request for this country. U.S. domestic FOs must forward all appropriate information to Office of Earnings and International Operations, Division of International Operations (OEIO, DIO) for processing (For more information on forwarding IDD information, see GN 02402.205C, GN 01010.255, and GN 01702.310C).

B. Overview of IDD policy for India

The beneficiary must provide complete information to DIO or the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) for input. DIO will fax incomplete forms to the FBU that serves India. The FBU contacts the beneficiary or FI for additional information.

C. Description of Indian direct deposit data

The IDD coding for Indian bank data consists of up to 28 characters, including the country code of “I”:

1. An 11-digit Indian Financial System Code (IFSC), including:

   • A five-character alphanumeric bank code (last character is always a zero); and

   • A six-character alphanumeric branch code; and

2. An account number which begins with the letter “I” and contains up to 16 digits

D. Procedure for processing direct deposit requests

1. Reviewing Indian bank data

The Veterans Administration Regional Office (VARO) in Manila reviews the forms and returns them for additional information or correction if necessary. Route all completed enrollment forms for review and input to one of the following addresses:

VARO/SSAD

US Embassy

1131 Roxas Blvd., Ermita

0930 Manila Philippines

Or

Social Security Administration

Office of International Operations

PO Box 17769

Baltimore, MD 21235-7769, USA

Direct any questions about the validity of any bank data for an Indian FI to the servicing Embassy, Consulate General, or Consulate in India.

If routing information for the selected bank is not yet on the list at FRBKC, the beneficiary must obtain the full name and address of the bank, and its’ Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) code. If a bank or branch uses another bank to route its direct deposits, provide all routing information for that bank.

2. Applying Indian bank data to the MBR

VARO examines the bank data to see if it is already on the list of Indian banks that FRBKC can reach with payments. If not, VARO asks the FRBKC to add the data to their internal list.

The VARO staff keys the approved data into Treasury’s International Treasury Services (ITS.gov) . FRBKC then sends the data to SSA through Automated Enrollment for input to the MBR.

If DIO receives the documents, they input the data through the applicable SSA software or ITS.gov. If it is within 4 days of the cutoff for direct deposit, DIO must code the data directly to the MBR.

NOTE: When the DAN, including the alpha code of “I” is longer than 17 characters, you must use ITS.gov to code the full banking information, as the MBR cannot house over 17 characters in the DAN field.

E. Procedure for coding the bank routing and account numbers to the MBR for IDD to India

The FRBKC relies on SSA to provide them with the entire bank information to ensure correct posting of payments to a customers’ bank account. If the information is incomplete, the FRBKC rejects the payment and returns it to SSA. The preferred method for coding bank data for direct deposit in India is through ITS.gov. However, DIO technicians can use the procedure outlined below to code IDD of Title II benefits to the MBR for accounts in India if:

• the direct deposit cutoff is within four days, or

• you are unable to code the information directly into ITS.gov .

You cannot use ITS.gov if the direct deposit cutoff is within 4 days. Technicians must use an SSA system to code the data directly to the MBR.

NOTE: Anytime an account number is longer than five digits, DIO must also input the bank information into ITS.gov .

F. Examples of coding Indian direct deposit

Example 1

Three days before the cutoff, DIO receives a completed enrollment form for India for a Rupee Savings Account. The IFSC is A12B025CT35 (bank code is A12B0 and branch code is 25CT35), and the account number is 67890.

You process the enrollment via POS, by completing the fields as follows:

• Code an RTN of 660000000

• Account Type field of “S”, for savings account

• Dan of “I” (for Indian Rupee) A12B0 (the five-character alphanumeric bank code), 25CT35 (the six-character alphanumeric branch code), and 67890 (the first five digits of the account number

The coding in POS will reflect the following information:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 660000000 ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): S

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: IA12B025CT3567890 CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-660000000 DAN-SIA12B025CT3567890

Since the MBR is able to house all of the bank info in this example, there is no need to update ITS.gov. The information coded on the MBR will interface with ITS.gov.

Example 2

Three days before the cutoff, DIO receives a completed enrollment form for India for a Rupee Checking Account. The bank is A12B0, the branch is 25CT35, and the account number is 6789012345.

You process the enrollment via POS by completing the fields as follows:

• Code the RTN with 660000000;

• The Account Type Field of “C”, for checking account; and

• The DAN of “I” (for Indian Rupee), A12B0 (the five-character alphanumeric bank code), 25CT35 (the six character alphanumeric branch code), and the first five digits of the account number of 6789012345.

NOTE: You need to enter the bank information into ITS.gov on the same business day since the account number is over five digits long.

The coding in POS will reflect:

DIRECT DEPOSIT ROUTING TRANSIT NUMBER: 660000000 ACCOUNT TYPE (C/S): C

DEPOSITOR ACCOUNT NUMBER: IA12B025CT3567890 CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT (Y):

DIRECT EXPRESS (Y):

The MBR will reflect the following information:

RTN-660000000 DAN-CIA12B025CT3567890

G. Exhibit of direct deposit form for India (SSA-1199-IN)

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