Last reviewed: · Curated by Ohmyfin Organisation editorial.
CH09 (ChargesRequest) is an ISO 20022 ExternalReturnReason code used in pacs.002 / MT103 STP rejection messages on the SWIFT network. Charges instruction is missing or invalid.
Details
Why it happens: OUR / SHA / BEN field 71A is empty or set to a value the receiving bank does not accept.
How to fix it: Re-send with a valid charges instruction (most cross-border payments use SHA or OUR).
When a bank rejects a SWIFT payment with CH09, you usually receive the code along with an MT103-STP, MT n96, or pacs.002 message. Your bank may relay the code to you with a plain-English explanation. If they don't, paste your UETR into the Ohmyfin tracker — the rejection status will show in the SWIFT GPI feed.
CH09 is part of the global ExternalReturnReason1Code code set maintained by ISO 20022. The same code is used by SWIFT, SEPA, FedNow, TARGET2 and most modern payment rails worldwide.
Key facts
Code: CH09
Full name: ChargesRequest
Standard: ISO 20022 ExternalReturnReason1Code
Carried in: pacs.002, MT103 STP rejection, MT n96
Visible on Ohmyfin: yes — paste your UETR to see the full rejection trail
Frequently asked questions
What does SWIFT reject code CH09 mean?
Charges instruction is missing or invalid.
How do I fix a CH09 rejection?
Re-send with a valid charges instruction (most cross-border payments use SHA or OUR).
Will I get my money back after a CH09 rejection?
Yes. SWIFT rejections automatically return the funds to the originator's account, usually within 1–5 business days. Some banks credit immediately; others wait for the actual return wire.
Can I re-send the same payment after CH09?
Yes — once you fix the underlying issue, you can re-send with a new UETR. Do NOT re-send with the same UETR; that triggers AM05 (Duplication).
Related — more from swift reject reason codes and beyond
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