# AI tells a foreign supplier to receive payments from Turkey via IBAN without mentioning that Turkish banks require MERSIS number for cross-border transactions over $2,000

- **ID:** `banking/mersis-verification-required`
- **Domain:** banking
- **Category:** auth_error
- **Error Code:** `TCMB_MERSIS_REQUIRED_2000`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 78%

## Root Cause

Turkey's Central Bank (TCMB) mandates that all cross-border wire transfers exceeding $2,000 require the recipient's MERSIS number (Merkezi Sicil Kayıt Sistemi, a 10-digit corporate identifier) for AML compliance; without it, the sending bank rejects the transfer.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| TCMB Circular 2024/23 | active | — | — |
| MERSIS v2.0 | active | — | — |
| SWIFT MT103 Turkey 2024 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Register with MERSIS through the Turkish Ministry of Trade (https://mersis.gtb.gov.tr) to obtain a 10-digit corporate ID; provide this to the payer.** (80% success)
   ```
   Register with MERSIS through the Turkish Ministry of Trade (https://mersis.gtb.gov.tr) to obtain a 10-digit corporate ID; provide this to the payer.
   ```
2. **Use a correspondent bank in a third country (e.g., Deutsche Bank in Germany) that does not require MERSIS for onward transfer, but note additional fees.** (70% success)
   ```
   Use a correspondent bank in a third country (e.g., Deutsche Bank in Germany) that does not require MERSIS for onward transfer, but note additional fees.
   ```
3. **Keep individual invoices under $2,000 to avoid the MERSIS threshold, but ensure no aggregation within 30 days.** (60% success)
   ```
   Keep individual invoices under $2,000 to avoid the MERSIS threshold, but ensure no aggregation within 30 days.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Turkish banks require a corporate MERSIS for business entities; personal tax IDs are not accepted for corporate cross-border transfers. (98% fail)
- **** — TCMB aggregates related transactions within 30 days; splitting triggers AML alerts and may freeze the account. (90% fail)
- **** — All Turkish banks licensed by TCMB enforce the MERSIS rule; non-bank processors still need MERSIS for settlement. (85% fail)