/ bank account change / wire transfer / payment safety
Handling Last-Minute Supplier Bank Account Changes
A late account change should trigger verification through a second channel before any wire transfer.
Why it matters
Last-minute bank account changes are one of the clearest payment risk triggers in sourcing. The change may be legitimate, especially when a supplier updates its bank or uses an affiliate collector. It may also be a sign of account compromise or a mismatch that was hidden until payment.
Evidence to collect
Save the original bank details, new bank details, sender channel, reason for change, invoice revision, beneficiary name, and any authorization letter. Confirm the change through a known contact channel that is not the same email thread that delivered the change.
How to review it
Compare the new beneficiary with the supplier identity and invoice issuer. If the beneficiary is different, require written authorization and a clear relationship. For high-value payments, consider a voice or video confirmation with a known contact.
Where buyers get misled
Importers get misled when they accept urgency as proof. A supplier may say production is waiting, but a rushed payment to the wrong account can be far more damaging than a short delay.
Practical next step
Make account changes a hard stop. No payment should be released until the change is independently confirmed and documented in the order file.
Working checklist
- Save old and new details.
- Confirm through a second channel.
- Match beneficiary name.
- Request written authorization.
- Block payment until review is complete.