What is a Purpose of Payment (POP) code?

A Purpose of Payment code is a standardised identifier typically managed by the country’s central bank or other authority and used to categorise and explain the underlying reason for the international payment.

A POP code consists of numbers or letters, or sometimes both and is typically three to nine characters long.

Countries that require a POP code

These countries require Purpose of Payment (POP) codes to be listed on payments made in any currency when using NAB Internet Banking, the NAB app and NAB Connect.

Select the country that you’re sending a payment to and find the code that matches the reason for your payment.

How to include a POP code in your international payment

NAB Internet Banking and NAB App

Find the POP code corresponding to your payment and include it in the ‘purpose of payment’ field.

The format should be ‘Purpose Code - [XXX] [Purpose Reason]'.

Example: ‘Purpose Code - 1234 Transfer to Family’

NAB Connect

Find the POP code corresponding to your payment and include it in the ‘Instructions to beneficiary’ field.

The format should be ‘Purpose Code – [XXX] [Purpose Reason]’.

Example: ‘Purpose Code – 1234 Transfer to Family’

What happens if I don’t include a POP code?

If you don’t include a POP code in your payment to relevant countries, your payment could be delayed or rejected.

Important information