Sending business payments from the US to Peru
A US company pays a Peruvian supplier, contractor or subsidiary by SWIFT wire, usually in US dollars to the recipient's dollar account, because dollars are widely used in Peruvian business. You need the legal name, RUC, bank and SWIFT code, the dollar account number and its 20-digit CCI.
- The CCI is a 20-digit code that identifies one Peruvian bank account for interbank transfers, so a supplier's dollar and soles accounts have different CCIs.
- The RUC is SUNAT's permanent 11-digit taxpayer number, and it should be the same on every invoice from the same supplier.
- The Banco Central de Reserva del Perú reported that 34.1% of credit to businesses was in foreign currency in March 2026.
- BCP states that an incoming transfer is processed in minutes, while Banco de la Nación makes funds available 48 hours after it receives the SWIFT messages.
- Banco de la Nación charges USD 10 per incoming transfer from abroad, and BCP converts at the rate of the day if the transfer and account currencies differ.
Details to collect from a Peruvian recipient
Two Peruvian numbers matter. The CCI (Código de Cuenta Interbancario) is a 20-digit code that identifies a specific bank account for transfers between banks. The RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes) is the permanent 11-digit taxpayer number SUNAT, the tax and customs authority, gives every registered taxpayer. Banco de la Nación accepts the CCI in place of the account number on a wire from abroad; BCP asks for the account number with its SWIFT code. Ask for both.
| Detail | Format or example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | Full legal name (razón social) | Banco de la Nación requires the full name as registered with the bank |
| RUC | 11 digits | Identifies the company and matches its invoices |
| Bank and SWIFT code | For example BCPLPEPL (BCP) or BANCPEPL (Banco de la Nación) | Routes the payment |
| Account number | The number of the USD account | BCP asks for it |
| CCI | 20 digits, for the same USD account | Accepted by some banks instead of the account number |
| Reference | Invoice number and what the payment is for | Lets the supplier match the credit |
Sources: SUNAT, RUC; BCP; Banco de la Nación. As published on 29 October 2026.
Pay in soles or in US dollars?
Peru's currency is the sol, but dollars are used widely in business. The Banco Central de Reserva del Perú (BCRP) reported that in March 2026 the dollarization ratio of credit to businesses was 34.1%, and 22.1% across all private sector credit. Many exporters price in dollars and hold dollar accounts, so a dollar invoice paid into a dollar account is usually the simplest route, with no conversion at either end.
The risk is a currency mismatch. BCP states that if the transfer currency differs from the account currency, the funds are converted at the exchange rate of the day. A dollar wire to a soles account therefore leaves the conversion to the supplier's bank.
| Invoice and account | Result |
|---|---|
| USD invoice, USD account | Dollars credited, no conversion |
| USD invoice, soles account | Converted by the bank at its rate of the day |
| PEN invoice | You convert and carry the exchange risk |
Sources: BCRP, Resumen Informativo, 23 April 2026; BCP. As published on 29 October 2026.
For soles amounts, see the USD to PEN currency page.
Rails and arrival times
Payments from the United States reach Peru by SWIFT. Swift reports that almost 100% of gpi payments are credited within 24 hours, and nearly 60% within 30 minutes. After the message arrives, each Peruvian bank applies its own process, and the two banks below publish very different service levels.
| Bank | Published timing for incoming transfers |
|---|---|
| BCP | Processed in minutes and credited to the account |
| Banco de la Nación | Available 48 hours after the SWIFT messages are received, once the sending or correspondent bank has credited Banco de la Nación; can take longer depending on country of origin and correspondents |
Sources: BCP; Banco de la Nación. As published on 29 October 2026.
Agree with the supplier which date counts as payment: the day you send or the day its bank credits the account. Our guide on how to pay suppliers in Peru lists the 2026 Peruvian holidays, and the Peru country guide covers the same corridor from the exporter's side.
Documents and checks
Peru does not require purpose codes on incoming wires, but a clear reference and a matching beneficiary are what keep a payment moving. Banco de la Nación states that some accounts, such as alimony accounts, accept foreign transfers only for their stated purpose and return others to the sender, so pay only an operating account in the supplier's company name. A new RUC on an invoice from a known supplier is a reason to stop and call, because the number is permanent.
On the US side, every payment to a Peruvian supplier must pass sanctions screening: OFAC states that all US persons, including all US incorporated entities and their foreign branches, must comply with US sanctions, so the payer, the recipient and the recipient's bank are checked before the money moves.
Costs: Helm fees, intermediary deductions, SHA and OUR
Banco de la Nación publishes a flat USD 10 fee per incoming transfer from abroad, and BCP charges a commission per its tariff schedule. Intermediary deductions come on top on SHA wires. Every SWIFT wire carries a charge code. OUR means the sender pays all charges, so the full amount should arrive. SHA means charges are shared: the sender pays its own provider, and intermediary banks may deduct their fees in transit. BEN means every charge comes out of the amount sent. When the supplier invoices in dollars and holds a dollar account, the comparison comes down to the wire fee and who pays the charges. Helm international payments show the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm, and the account manager confirms the route for each corridor.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
Why payments to Peru are held or returned
| Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|
| CCI with the wrong number of digits, or from a different bank than the SWIFT code | Count 20 digits and match the bank |
| Dollars sent to a soles account | Ask for the CCI of the dollar account in writing |
| Brand name instead of legal name | Use the razón social |
| Special-purpose or personal account | Pay only the company's operating account |
| Correspondent delays | Send early in the US day and share the UETR |
Sources: Banco de la Nación; BCP. As published on 29 October 2026.
Checklist before you send
- Ask for the dollar account number and its 20-digit CCI, and the 11-digit RUC.
- Match the CCI's bank to the SWIFT code you are using.
- Confirm in writing that the account is in US dollars.
- Allow 48 hours after receipt if the supplier banks with Banco de la Nación.
- Send the MT103 and UETR with the invoice number.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
What is a CCI in Peru?
The CCI (Código de Cuenta Interbancario) is a 20-digit code that identifies one Peruvian bank account for transfers between banks. A supplier with dollar and soles accounts has a different CCI for each.
What details do I need to pay a Peruvian supplier?
The legal name, RUC, bank name and SWIFT code, the dollar account number and its CCI, and an invoice reference. Confirm new details by phone with a known contact.
Should I pay a Peruvian supplier in dollars?
Usually yes, if the supplier invoices in dollars and has a dollar account. Dollars sent to a soles account are converted at the bank's rate of the day.
How long does a business wire to Peru take?
BCP states incoming transfers are processed in minutes once received. Banco de la Nación makes funds available 48 hours after it receives the SWIFT messages.
What does it cost to receive a wire in Peru?
Banco de la Nación charges USD 10 per incoming transfer; BCP charges according to its tariff schedule. Intermediary deductions apply on SHA wires.
References
- Banco Central de Reserva del Perú: Resumen Informativo Semanal, 23 April 2026
- SUNAT: Registro Único de Contribuyentes (RUC)
- Banco de la Nación: Frequently asked questions on transfers from abroad
- BCP: Transfers from abroad for companies
- Swift: Fast, transparent and trackable payments (gpi)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC: Who must comply with OFAC sanctions? (FAQ 11)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.