Unicorn Currencies
Login
Unicorn Currencies
HOME

COMPANY

Why UnicornWho it is forTrustComplianceCanada

MONEY MOVEMENT

How it worksPay-InFXPay-OutPricing

CAPABILITY

PlatformIndustriesCompare

SUPPORT

FAQContact
Login→
Payment Problem — Document hold

A bank is asking for a sender letter.

You are in the right place if a bank is asking for a sender letter. The issue is usually not whether the payment was sent. The bank is waiting for a document, purpose, declaration, or trade explanation before it releases the funds.

A document hold is rarely about producing more paper for its own sake. The bank is trying to connect the payment to a clear commercial event: who paid, who receives, what goods or services are involved, and why the amount makes sense. For this case, gather sender identity, beneficiary identity, amount, currency, purpose, invoice, and relationship context. That gives the bank a clean release pack and gives treasury enough context to challenge a vague or repeated document request.

01

What the bank is waiting for

The bank is usually trying to connect the payment to the underlying trade: invoice, purpose, sender, beneficiary, goods or services, and amount. In this case, the immediate issue is that a bank is asking for a sender letter.

02

What the document pack must show

Send a clean pack: sender identity, beneficiary identity, amount, currency, purpose, invoice, and relationship context. The details should match the beneficiary, invoice, payment reference, currency, amount, and commercial purpose.

03

When this is still a release issue

It is still a normal release issue while the bank is asking for a specific document and confirming the review path. It becomes escalation when the request is unclear, repeated after documents were supplied, or no bank will own the release status.

04

When to escalate

Do not send a replacement payment just to reduce pressure. Contact Unicorn with the document request, payment proof, invoice, beneficiary details, and timeline so treasury can help shape the response and escalation path.

A bank is asking for a sender letter usually means the bank needs to connect the payment to a real commercial transaction before funds are released. Start by matching the payment to the invoice, purpose, sender, beneficiary, amount, currency, and trade context, then respond with one clean document pack instead of disconnected attachments.

Key question

What should a sender letter include?

A sender letter should identify the sender, beneficiary, payment amount, currency, date, purpose, invoice or contract reference, and transaction reference. It should explain the commercial reason for the payment in language that matches the supporting documents.

RelatedInvoice or sender letterPurpose of paymentBank asking for purpose of paymentBeneficiary bank asking for invoice before releasing fundsBank asking for sender declaration
Talk to TreasuryPayment Problems
LegalApplyCurrenciesCountriesDemurrage CalculatorPayment Problems

Unicorn Currencies Limited is registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business and registered with the Bank of Canada as a Payment Service Provider under the Retail Payment Activities Act. UK services are provided by Unicorn Currencies Ltd as a corporate intermediary through authorised partners where regulated payment or e-money services are required. Legal and regulatory information.