OUR, SHA and BEN
OUR, SHA and BEN are the three charge options on an international payment. They decide who pays the fees: the sender (OUR), both sides sharing (SHA), or the beneficiary (BEN). The choice travels with the payment in its charge-bearer field and tells every bank in the chain what it may deduct.
The three options
| Option | Sender pays | Beneficiary pays | Beneficiary receives |
|---|---|---|---|
| OUR | All fees, including intermediaries | Nothing | Usually the full amount |
| SHA | Its own provider's fee | Its own bank's fee and any intermediary fees | Amount minus some fees |
| BEN | Nothing | All fees | Amount minus all fees |
Payments inside the EEA
When both the sender's and the beneficiary's providers are in the EEA, PSD2 requires shared charges: each side pays its own provider. In practice that means SHA, and SEPA payments are always SHA.Choosing for payments outside the EEA
Use OUR when the supplier must receive an exact amount, such as an invoice total, and accept a higher fee. Use SHA as the default. BEN is rare in business payments. Even with OUR, a receiving bank can still charge its own client for an incoming payment.FAQ
The payment was probably sent SHA or BEN, and an intermediary or the receiving bank took a fee. SWIFT GPI tracking shows who deducted what.
For the sender, yes, because you prepay fees the beneficiary would otherwise carry.
Last reviewed October 21, 2026Disclaimer
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or other professional advice from Narvi Payments Oy Ab or its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or other professional advice from Narvi Payments Oy Ab or its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
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