If a payment doesn't go through as expected, use this guide to identify the cause and fix it.

A payment failed or was returned

Check the transfer details in Payments → Transfers for the specific error message. See Payment statuses explained for a full guide to each status.

My beneficiary received less than I sent

This happens with SWIFT transfers when fees are deducted along the route:

• SHA (Shared): Your bank fees are charged to you, but the beneficiary's bank may deduct its own fees from the received amount.
• BEN (Beneficiary pays all): All fees — including yours, intermediary, and the receiving bank's — are deducted from the transfer amount.
  
• Intermediary banks: Covers the beneficiary's bank fees on your side, so they generally receive the full amount — though intermediary banks may still apply a small deduction in some cases.
  Learn more in Pay an international account (SWIFT transfer).

My local transfer was not instant

Two common reasons:

• The amount is above SAR 20,000. Transfers above this threshold are processed via SARIE and settle on the next working day (T+1).
• You sent it outside business hours. Transfers made on weekends, public holidays, or after banking hours may be processed on the next business day.

See Pay a Saudi bank account (local transfer) for more details.

A payment is stuck in "Processing"

Local and SWIFT payments pass through banks, so they can take time.

• Check the expected arrival time shown on the payment.
• SWIFT payments may take 1–3 business days depending on the destination and correspondent banks.
• If it's well past the expected time, contact support.

I can't add or verify a payment method

• Make sure the account holder name matches the partner's legal name exactly.
• For local accounts, check the IBAN is 24 characters starting with SA.
• For SWIFT, confirm the SWIFT/BIC code is 8 or 11 characters and matches a known bank.
• If verification failed, correct the details and save — verification re-runs automatically.
• For local IBAN, verification is instant. If it's not completing, the details are likely incorrect.

See Verifying a payment method for the full guide.

I see a duplicate partner warning

SiFi checks the payment method you're entering against your existing list — if it matches one already on file, you will see a duplicate warning.

• It's the same partner: Cancel and use the existing entry instead — the payment method is already attached to it.
• It's genuinely a different partner: A payment method can only belong to one partner at a time. Confirm which partner should keep it, then use a different payment method for the other. See Avoiding duplicate partners.

My payment needs approval

The payment is waiting for an approver to review it. Check with your company's designated approvers, or ask an admin about your approval policy. See Approvals & payment policies.

Still stuck?

Contact support@sifi.sa with the payment details and we'll help — in Arabic or English.

Need more help? Contact support@sifi.sa.