What is a UETR number?
The 36-character SWIFT identifier explained.
A UETR is the 36-character tracking ID your bank attaches to every international bank transfer. Think of a help-desk ticket that is passed between teams while a case is handled: each team records its update against the same ticket number, and the whole history stays in one place. The UETR does the same job for your transfer. Every bank that handles it records a status against the same ID, and SWIFT's tracker collects those updates into a single timeline.
UETR stands for Unique End-to-end Transaction Reference. SWIFT, the network banks use to send international transfers, has required a UETR on every customer transfer since 18 November 2018.
Trace a SWIFT transfer
Public bank tracker lookup. Free preview.
UETR at a glance
A quick reference for what a UETR looks like, how long it is, and where it lives in a SWIFT message.
6f8d3a2b-1c44-4f8e-9b21-7d2c9f0a1b22
^[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-4[0-9a-f]{3}-[89ab][0-9a-f]{3}-[0-9a-f]{12}$
UETR Structure
UETR Validator
Paste a UETR and see if it parses as a valid RFC 4122 UUID v4.
This UETR is a well-formed RFC 4122 UUID version 4, the format SWIFT requires in field 121. Paste it into uetr.ai to check public bank trackers.
UETR vs MT103 vs BIC vs IBAN vs TRN
People often confuse UETRs with the other identifiers on a payment. They are very different.
| Identifier | What it identifies | Length & format | Scope | Mandated since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UETR | A single payment, end-to-end | 36 chars · UUID v4 · 8-4-4-4-12 | Across every SWIFT step | 18 Nov 2018 |
| MT103 (field 20) | A single MT103 message between two banks | ≤16 chars · alphanumeric | Single message between two banks | Per-message |
| BIC (SWIFT code) | A bank, branch, or financial institution | 8 or 11 chars · ISO 9362 (e.g. CHASUS33) | Routing within SWIFT | Bank identifier · stable |
| IBAN | A specific bank account | ≤34 chars · country + check + BBAN | EU / UK / GCC domestic accounts | Account identifier · stable |
| TRN (card networks) | A card-network transaction (separate world from SWIFT) | 12 to 23 digits | Card scheme / acquirer | Card-network rules |
Why the UETR matters
Before SWIFT introduced UETRs in 2018, there was no shared identifier that stayed with a transfer from start to finish. Once your bank sent the payment, even your own bank could not see what was happening to it. To find out, they had to send a separate free-text inquiry message (called an MT199) to the next bank, wait for a reply, then send another message to the bank after that, and so on along the chain.
Two consequences: customers received vague answers such as "it has left our system, please wait", and a single inquiry could take days because every bank in the chain responded on its own schedule.
The UETR replaced that with a shared identifier. Every bank that handles the transfer is now required to keep the UETR unchanged and publish a structured status update tied to it. SWIFT's tracker collects those updates as they arrive, so anyone with the UETR can open a live timeline.
The practical result: a delayed transfer is no longer invisible. The UETR tells you whether the transfer is in transit, has arrived at the beneficiary's bank, has been credited to the beneficiary account, is held in compliance review, or has been rejected and is being sent back to you, and which specific bank in the chain is the one to ask about.
The UETR in under a minute
What a UETR is, where it lives on your MT103, and how it tracks a transfer end to end.
What a UETR looks like
The 36-character format at a glance: 8-4-4-4-12 lowercase hex, with the UUID v4 version and variant digits called out.
How the UETR actually works
What it looks like, where your bank stores it, how it travels with the transfer, and how to recognise a fake.
01/ What a UETR looks like
A UETR is 36 characters total: 32 letters and numbers (using only 0-9 and a-f, all lowercase) plus 4 hyphens that split it into five groups in the pattern 8-4-4-4-12. The third group always starts with the digit 4. The fourth group always starts with 8, 9, a, or b.
Technically it is a UUID version 4, a standard random-identifier format (defined in IETF RFC 4122) used across software. Your bank generates the UETR automatically when you send the transfer; you do not choose it.
02/ Where the UETR sits in the bank's message
When your bank sends an international transfer, it does so by sending a structured message called an MT103 over the SWIFT network. The UETR has its own place inside that message, technically called "field 121". On the printed copy you can request from your bank, you will see it written as {121:6f8d3a2b-1c44-4f8e-9b21-7d2c9f0a1b22}.
SWIFT is gradually replacing MT103 with a newer format called pacs.008, part of the ISO 20022 standard, but the UETR still travels in both, only the surrounding envelope changes. More about MT103 here.
03/ How the UETR travels
When your bank sends the transfer, every bank in the chain, that is the sending bank, any go-between banks, and the beneficiary's bank, is required to keep the UETR unchanged. Each bank also reports a quick status update against that UETR back to the SWIFT network: "I have it", "I passed it on", "It has been credited".
This is what makes the UETR end-to-end: it identifies the same payment from the moment your bank creates it until the money arrives. See what each status update means →
04/ How to recognise a fake or wrong UETR
If a "UETR" you have been given is not exactly 36 characters, contains letters outside a-f, has any uppercase, or the third group does not start with 4, it is not a valid UETR.
A common confusion: some banks share an internal transaction reference (often called the "customer reference" or just "transaction ID") that looks short and simple. That is not the UETR. If your reference does not pass the validator above, ask your bank for the UETR from their SWIFT gpi tracker.
The same UETR stays with the payment from the first bank to the last, and every bank reports its status against it to the SWIFT gpi Tracker.
How to find your UETR
Your bank generates the UETR when it sends the transfer. Where you see it depends on which bank you are with and whether you use retail or business banking.
Look on the transfer confirmation
When your bank confirms an outgoing transfer, the document (often called an 'MT103 advice' or 'SWIFT copy') is the most reliable place. Look for a line labelled 'UETR', 'End-to-end ID', 'gpi reference', or '{121:' followed by the 36-character code.
Check your business banking portal
If you bank through a business or treasury portal, for example HSBCnet, CitiDirect, J.P. Morgan Access, Deutsche Bank Autobahn, BNY Mellon NEXEN, Santander Cash Nexus, or Standard Chartered Straight2Bank, the UETR is in the payment-status detail page. Each portal calls it something slightly different.
Simply ask your bank
If you bank online as a regular customer, the UETR is often not shown. Send a secure message or call the branch and ask for 'the UETR for my SWIFT transfer sent on [date]'. They can retrieve it from their internal SWIFT gpi tracker in seconds.
Find your UETR by bank
Bank-specific guides covering where the UETR appears in each major bank's customer portal.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about UETR numbers
What is a UETR number?
A UETR number is a 36-character UUID v4 identifier that SWIFT has required on every customer credit transfer routed over the FIN network since 18 November 2018. It is generated by the sending bank's payment system and carried in MT103 field 121 (and in the pacs.008 message envelope under ISO 20022), preserved across every correspondent and intermediary bank in the chain.
What does UETR stand for?
UETR stands for Unique End-to-end Transaction Reference. The 'end-to-end' part is what makes it useful. The same UETR identifies the payment from the moment the sending bank creates it until the beneficiary bank credits the funds, even across multiple correspondent banks.
What is a UETR number in banking?
In banking, a UETR number is the tracking identifier SWIFT uses to follow a payment across the correspondent chain. It is mandatory for all FIN customer credit transfers (MT103, MT202, MT202COV, MT205, MT205COV) since 18 November 2018. Every bank that handles the payment reports a pacs.002 status event back to the SWIFT gpi Tracker keyed against the UETR.
What is UETR in SWIFT?
In SWIFT, the UETR is the unique reference field that lets banks and customers trace a payment across the correspondent chain. It is carried in field 121 of the SWIFT MT user header (Block 3) and in the Payment Identification block (PmtId/UETR) of an ISO 20022 pacs.008 message. The SWIFT gpi Tracker uses the UETR as its primary key.
What does a UETR number look like?
A UETR looks like 6f8d3a2b-1c44-4f8e-9b21-7d2c9f0a1b22. It is 32 lowercase hexadecimal digits split into 5 groups of 8-4-4-4-12 by hyphens. The third group always starts with the digit 4 (the UUID version), and the fourth group starts with 8, 9, a, or b (the UUID variant). It is case-sensitive, always lowercase.
How long is a UETR number?
Exactly 36 characters: 32 hexadecimal digits and 4 hyphens. There are no spaces and no other punctuation. If your bank shows you something shorter, or with letters outside a-f, it is not a UETR.
How many digits is a UETR number?
A UETR has 32 hexadecimal digits (0-9 and a-f) plus 4 hyphens, for a total of 36 characters. The digits-only count is 32.
Is the UETR the same as the MT103?
No. The MT103 is a SWIFT FIN message type that carries a customer credit transfer between banks. The UETR is a 36-character identifier carried inside the MT103, in field 121 of the user header. One identifies the message, the other identifies the payment as it moves through the chain. See our MT103 explained page for the full breakdown.
Is the UETR the same as a SWIFT code (BIC)?
No. A SWIFT code (also called a BIC) is an 8- or 11-character ISO 9362 identifier for a financial institution, for example CHASUS33. A UETR is a 36-character identifier for a single payment. One identifies a bank; the other identifies a transaction.
What is a UETR reference number?
'UETR reference number' is just a longer way of saying UETR. Some banks and corporate banking portals call it the 'end-to-end reference', the 'gpi reference', the 'tracking reference', or 'field 121'. All of those refer to the same 36-character identifier.
Where can I find my UETR number?
Your UETR appears on the SWIFT payment confirmation or MT103 advice your sending bank issues. In corporate banking portals (HSBCnet, J.P. Morgan Access, CitiDirect, Deutsche Bank Autobahn, BNY Mellon NEXEN, Santander Cash Nexus, Standard Chartered Straight2Bank) it is shown as 'UETR', 'End-to-end ID', 'gpi reference', or 'Field 121'. For retail transfers, ask your bank to retrieve the UETR from their gpi Tracker.
What is the UETR number in MT103?
In an MT103 message, the UETR sits in field 121 of the user header (Block 3). On a printed MT103 advice you will see it as '{121:6f8d3a2b-1c44-4f8e-9b21-7d2c9f0a1b22}'. Field 121 was introduced in 2017 for SWIFT gpi and made mandatory for all FIN customer credit transfers from 18 November 2018.
Is UETR mandatory?
Yes. SWIFT made UETR mandatory for all FIN customer credit transfer messages (MT103, MT202, MT202COV, MT205, MT205COV) from 18 November 2018. Payments without a valid UETR are rejected (NAK) by the SWIFT network.
How do I track a UETR number?
Enter the UETR into uetr.ai to check public SWIFT gpi trackers. The tracker returns pacs.002 status events (ACSP for in transit, ACSC for settlement completed, ACCC for credited to the beneficiary account, PDNG for pending review, RJCT for rejected) tied to that UETR across every bank in the chain. Your sending bank's own gpi viewer is the official source.
How is a UETR generated?
The UETR is generated by the sending bank's payment system at the moment the payment instruction is created. It is a UUID v4, a random identifier, produced according to RFC 4122. Customers do not generate UETRs themselves; if you do not have one, ask your sending bank to provide it from their gpi viewer.
Do SEPA payments have a UETR?
Standard SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) and SEPA Instant payments use a domestic end-to-end identifier (the EndToEndId), not a SWIFT UETR. Cross-border euro payments routed through SWIFT correspondent banking, outside the SEPA scheme, will carry a UETR.
Is the UETR the same as a SWIFT tracking number?
Yes. 'SWIFT tracking number', 'wire tracking number', 'gpi reference', and 'end-to-end reference' are all informal names for the UETR, the 36-character code SWIFT uses to track a payment across banks. There is no separate SWIFT tracking number to ask for: the UETR in field 121 is the tracking number.
How do I verify a UETR is valid?
Check the format first. A valid UETR is exactly 36 characters: 32 lowercase hexadecimal digits (0-9 and a-f) in 8-4-4-4-12 groups separated by hyphens, with the digit 4 starting the third group and 8, 9, a, or b starting the fourth, for example 6f8d3a2b-1c44-4f8e-9b21-7d2c9f0a1b22. Anything with uppercase letters, spaces, characters beyond a-f, or a different length is not a UETR. Pasting it into uetr.ai validates the format and then checks public trackers; a correctly formatted UETR that returns nothing usually means no public tracker data is available yet, not that the code is wrong.
Can anyone use UETR tracking to look up someone else's payment?
Only if they already hold that payment's UETR. The UETR is not public or guessable: it is a random 36-character UUID v4 generated by the sending bank, so there is no directory that lets you find a transfer by name, account number, or amount. uetr.ai reads only public SWIFT gpi tracker data for the exact UETR you paste, shows no personal account details, and never moves or accesses funds. In practice the sender, the beneficiary, and the banks in the chain are the parties who have the UETR.
Regulatory Disclosure
uetr.ai is an independent information service. We are strictly a read-only payment-monitoring tool. We never hold, move, custody, send, or process money. We are not a money transmitter or payment processor. Always consult your sending bank for the official record of any bank transfer.