SWIFT Message Structure

Messages used by the SWIFT network have a maximum of five components (see SWIFT Message Structure), as follows:

• Basic header block

• Application header block

• User header block (optional)

• Text block

• Trailer block

  

Each field component in the text block is preceded by a field tag. There are no field tags in the header and trailer blocks. The one exception to this format is MT 121, EDIFACT FINPAY, which has a single text field with no field tag identifier.

Information about a field common to all message types in which that field is used is found in the Standards - General Field Definitions volume of the SWIFT User Handbook. Information about a field specific to its use with a particular message type is found in the field specifications section of the Standards volume of the SWIFT User Handbook for that message type.