How to create a batch transfer using ABA files

You can now pay your employees and suppliers on Airwallex via a batch transfer using ABA (Australian Banking Association) files exported from your accounting software. Please note that ABA Batch Transfers are currently only able to be paid out in AUD.

You can make as many transfers on an ABA file as you'd like. There are no limits to the number of transfers supported per ABA file.

Transfers processed via ABA files will follow our usual processing times that you can see in our Payout Network. 

If you would like to create an international batch transfer, please refer to the guide here.  

1. Setting up before generating an ABA file

The 'From account'
Airwallex can accept ABA files with the 'from account' (an account from which funds are debited from) specified as any bank account as Airwallex deducts the funds from your Wallet and does not need to rely on this information.
For better reconciliation, you may want to set up the bank account you wish to fund the batch transfer or pay run in the accounting software. In this case, you can enter your default AUD Global Account bank details accordingly in the BSB and Account number fields.

Direct Entry service number
When asked for the Direct Entry service number (sometimes also known as an APCA Number, DE user ID, BECS ID or BUDS ID, APCA number), simply use 000000.

Self-balancing transaction
You do not need to include a self-balancing transaction. If your ABA file includes the self-balancing transaction, it will not be processed.

For more details, please see the ABA file format specifications at the bottom of this page.

2. Generate ABA Files

Note the "Description of entries" and "Date to be sent" in the "Descriptive record" will be used to generate your batch transfer.

See the ABA file format specifications table below for the field specifications and how Airwallex will use the information in an ABA file.

3. Log in to Airwallex, navigate to Transfers > Batch Transfers, and start by clicking on New ABA batch transfer

After logging in, if you see "Business Accounts" in the left navigation column, you're on the new Airwallex experience which is in beta phase. Go to Business Accounts > Transfers > Batch transfers.

If you don't see Business Accounts, then select Transfers > Batch transfers from left navigation bar. You will be migrated to the new WebApp experience soon as we gradually roll it out.

4. Upload your ABA file

Please note that the only file format supported is .aba and the maximum number of transfers that can be accepted per batch is 3000. 

5. Update transfer date when it's expired

When your ABA file has an expired transfer date, you can update the date when reviewing the batch transfer.

6. Fix any transfers that fail to process

When there are other types of errors in the file, you can re-generate the ABA file from your accounting software (after correcting the errors in your accounting software) and click Cancel and restart to re-upload your file. Common errors include: 
- Incorrect BSB format: please ensure there is a hyphen, e.g., 000-000
- Transfer date: this needs to be in the format DDMMYY, and cannot be a date in the past

7. Review and create your batch transfer

You can view the total amount in the Batch Summary, and individual transfers in the Transfer details section.

Once reviewed, click Create to book the transfers.

If your account does not have transfer approval enabled, you can create the batch right away.

If your account has transfer approval enabled, the creator can submit the batch transfer for approval. The approver can then review and approve it in the Approval list.

See here to learn more about transfer approval.

8. View a created batch transfer

Once a batch transfer is created, you can view it in the Summary list. Transfers get booked after a batch transfer is created. A 'Booked' status of a batch transfer indicates that all transfers within the batch are successfully created. For large-sized batch transfers, it takes longer to create all transfers. The transfer status can be tracked in the batch details.

Once a transfer is booked, the funds are deducted from the wallet immediately. If you have requested to set the fund deduction mode to be 'post-fund', the funds are deducted from your wallet on the transfer date.

The transfers are sent to the payee on the transfer date specified in the ABA file.

ABA file format specifications

Descriptive record (type 0)

Descriptive record (type 1)

File Total Record (type 7)