Attijariwafa bank joins Swift to speed up international transfers

This update focuses on Attijariwafa bank Swift Payments. Attijariwafa bank has taken a new step in modernising its cross-border transfers by joining the Swift Payments Scheme, a move that could directly affect the financial routines of many Moroccans living abroad.

Attijariwafa bank Swift Payments: what changes

By entering the Swift Payments Scheme, Attijariwafa bank is strengthening its strategy to upgrade international payments. This global Swift initiative is designed to make cross-border transfers faster, more predictable and more transparent from end to end.

For both retail and corporate customers, the goal is simple: shorten transfer times and provide clearer tracking for every transaction, from the initial instruction to the final credit on the beneficiary’s account.

Building on its earlier SWIFT gpi certification

This announcement builds on a long-standing partnership between Attijariwafa bank and Swift. Back in 2020, the bank became the first Moroccan institution to be certified SWIFT gpi, a label that already improved tracking and transparency on international payments.

The new Swift Payments Scheme goes further. It aims to align standards among participating banks to ensure:

• shorter and more predictable processing times;
• clearer visibility on the fees charged at each stage;
• near real-time tracking of a transfer’s route;
• fewer blockages and returns linked to controls.

For Moroccans abroad who send money home to support family or finance real estate or business projects in Morocco, Attijariwafa bank Swift Payments could ultimately improve the overall experience of transferring funds.

What it could mean for Moroccans abroad

Attijariwafa bank is currently working with several major international banks to implement the technical and operational requirements needed to roll out the Swift Payments Scheme. The launch will be gradual over the coming months.

In practice, customers will not see an immediate change on every payment corridor. Benefits should progressively extend to a growing number of countries and correspondent banks.

For Moroccans living in Europe, North America or the Gulf who use Attijariwafa bank to:

• send regular remittances to their families in Morocco;
• fund an account for a property project back home;
• pay suppliers or service providers in the country;

the full deployment of Swift Payments should help reduce uncertainty around vague transfer deadlines, opaque intermediary fees and the difficulty of knowing exactly where a payment stands along the chain.

A strategic priority for the bank

For Attijariwafa bank’s management, international payments remain a strategic priority for customers both inside and outside Morocco. Joining the Swift Payments Scheme confirms this position and adds to the bank’s ongoing efforts to modernise channels and tracking tools.

Moroccans abroad can therefore expect, in the medium term, a more competitive offer on speed and clarity of transfers, at a time when they increasingly compare services from traditional banks, money transfer operators and fully digital platforms.

While waiting for full deployment, customers are advised to check, for each transfer, indicative time frames and fees with their bank, and to follow official updates from Attijariwafa bank and financial authorities such as Bank Al-Maghrib on the evolution of international payment services.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.