TS ISO 9778

TS ISO 9778 is a banking standard concerned with the data elements, size, and layout of the form used to confirm loan and deposit agreements by mail between banks. Its purpose is to provide a uniform document structure so that the essential details of an agreement can be communicated in a clear, comparable, and operationally consistent way.

How the form structure is standardised

In general technical terms, this standard addresses not the commercial terms of the contract itself, but how the confirmation document is organised on the page. The prescribed data elements reflect the kind of information typically expected in interbank confirmations, such as party identification, transaction reference, amount, date, and related deal information. Defining the physical size and format helps different institutions exchange documents that are easier to read, file, and reconcile.

Why common confirmation formats matter in banking

Loan and deposit transactions between banks often require written confirmation because accuracy of the recorded details is critical. A common form structure supports legibility, internal control, archiving, and matching records between counterparties. In that sense, TS ISO 9778 standardises the presentation of the mail confirmation form for this specific banking use case; it does not set the financial terms of the agreements or define the contracts themselves.

This edition was published as TS ISO 9778:1999 and later withdrawn, so it is best understood as a historical reference for banking documentation practice and form design rather than a current active requirement.