Source: https://rivet.global/blog/swift-wire-tracking-uetr-us
Published: 2026-10-09 · Updated: 2026-10-09 · By Alexia M.

# Tracking an international wire with a UETR

How to track an international wire with its UETR: what Swift gpi shows, where to find the reference, common reasons wires stall and what to ask your provider.

## Key takeaways

- The UETR is a 36-character reference attached to every Swift payment message.
- Swift gpi lets participating banks track a payment's status, the banks it passed through and any fees deducted.
- Most wires arrive within a day; delays usually come from compliance checks, missing details or cut-off times.
- Give the UETR to the recipient so their bank can trace the payment from its end.

"Swift transfer tracking" is one of the most common questions after "swift transfer". A client says they paid; nothing has arrived. The UETR is how you find it.

## What a UETR is

A 36-character unique reference, for example 97ed4827-7b6f-4491-a06f-b548d5a7512d, attached to every Swift payment. Swift gpi uses it to track the payment across banks.

## What tracking shows

| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Status | Processing, credited, rejected |
| Banks passed | Sending, intermediary, beneficiary |
| Fees deducted | By each bank |
| Time | When each step happened |

## Why wires stall

1. Compliance review at an intermediary or the beneficiary bank.
2. Name or account mismatch.
3. Missing purpose of payment.
4. Cut-off times and public holidays.

## What to do

- Ask the sender for the UETR.
- Give it to your bank and ask for the gpi status.
- If held for compliance, provide the invoice or contract quickly.

## Avoiding the problem

Local payments, such as ACH in the US or SEPA in Europe, rarely need tracking because they settle domestically.

## Paying into the United States: the local rail

| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | ACH for batch payments; RTP and FedNow for instant transfers |
| Run by | Nacha for ACH; The Clearing House for RTP; the Federal Reserve for FedNow |
| Settlement | Same-day ACH within the business day, standard ACH the next; RTP and FedNow in seconds, 24/7, where both banks take part |

Source: [Nacha: Same Day ACH](https://www.nacha.org/rules/same-day-ach-moving-payments-faster). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

Rivet gives registered companies USD details on Starter and EUR and GBP details on Growth, so many clients can pay you on local rails instead of Swift. Payouts show their status in your dashboard. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [swift structured address requirement](/blog/swift-structured-address-requirement).

## Questions

### How do I track an international wire?

Ask your provider for the UETR and the gpi status. The recipient's bank can trace it with the same reference.

### What is a UETR?

A unique end-to-end transaction reference in UUID format, carried by every Swift payment.

### Why is my wire delayed?

Common reasons: a compliance review, an incorrect name or account, an intermediary holding it, or a cut-off or holiday.

### Can I see fees deducted?

Swift gpi shows fees deducted by each participating bank along the way.