Last reviewed: · Curated by Ohmyfin Organisation editorial.
NARR (Narrative) is an ISO 20022 ExternalReturnReason code used in pacs.002 / MT103 STP rejection messages on the SWIFT network. Reason is described in narrative free text rather than a code.
Details
Why it happens: Bank used custom wording instead of a standard ExternalReturnReason code.
How to fix it: Read the accompanying narrative — your bank can extract it from the pacs.002 / MT103 STP rejection message.
When a bank rejects a SWIFT payment with NARR, 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.
NARR 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: NARR
Full name: Narrative
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 NARR mean?
Reason is described in narrative free text rather than a code.
How do I fix a NARR rejection?
Read the accompanying narrative — your bank can extract it from the pacs.002 / MT103 STP rejection message.
Will I get my money back after a NARR 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 NARR?
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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