While Verto strives to ensure all cross-border payments are instant and seamless, payments to certain jurisdictions—especially China—can occasionally experience delays.
This is often due to a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the receiving bank, as is standard practise in China.
What is an RFI?
An RFI is a compliance check triggered by a bank within the payment chain. When sending to China, these are almost always triggered by the Beneficiary Bank (the receiving bank) to comply with local SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) regulations.
When an RFI happens, the funds are effectively "paused" until the bank receives the necessary documentation (such as invoices, contracts, or proof of relationship) to clear the funds.
The RFI Process
Notification: The banking partner notifies Verto that the payment is held.
Action: Verto support contacts you immediately to request the specific documents required.
Submission: Once you provide the documents, Verto submits them to the banking network immediately.
⚠️ Important: How to speed up the release
Once Verto has submitted your documents to the bank, the review process is entirely in the hands of the Beneficiary Bank in China.
While Verto can request updates, we cannot force an external bank to review a file faster. Experience has shown that Verto "chasing" the bank often results in generic "Pending Review" responses.
The most effective solution is for the Beneficiary to chase their own bank.
Because the Beneficiary is a direct client of the receiving bank, they have significantly more leverage to get the payment released.
Recommended Steps:
Locate your Tracking Details: Log in to your Verto platform and find the transaction. You will need either the MT103 (Proof of Payment document) or the UETR (a 36-character unique tracking code).
Instruct your Beneficiary: Send the MT103 or the UETR to your supplier and ask them to contact their bank's international SWIFT department.
Tip for your Beneficiary: "Please share this MT103/UETR with your bank. Ask them to locate the incoming funds in their system and match them with the RFI documents provided so the funds can be credited to the account."