Source of Funds in Türkiye 2025: Documents and Bank Transfer Checks

سفير تركيا

سفير تركيا

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Sometimes a large payment, or a series of payments, arrives in your account and the bank unexpectedly asks where the money came from. The transfer may be delayed while the bank requests documents.

These can be routine compliance checks intended to prevent money laundering and fraud. A request does not, by itself, mean that you have done anything wrong.

Editorial clarification — 8 October 2026: This 2025 guide remains practical background. Banks assess transactions individually under their customer-due-diligence obligations. There is no universal document or transfer amount that guarantees clearance, and supplying documents cannot guarantee that a restriction will be lifted. See MASAK’s customer-due-diligence provisions.

When might a bank ask about the source of funds?​

Examples include:
  • A transfer that is large relative to your usual account activity.
  • Repeated payments from abroad.
  • Payments from people or organisations whose connection to you is unclear.
  • Unusual activity, such as a newly opened account receiving substantial sums immediately.
These examples are indications of situations that may prompt questions, rather than a complete list of regulatory triggers.

Documents that may help explain the money​

Depending on the transaction, the bank may ask for:
  • An employment contract and payslips.
  • A sale agreement, invoice or other evidence of a vehicle or property sale.
  • A tenancy agreement and records supporting rental income.
  • Statements showing a transfer from your own account in another country, together with evidence of how the funds were earned where requested.
  • Company records if the money relates to a business you own.
The aim is to provide an official, consistent record explaining the origin and purpose of the funds. The bank decides which documents it needs and whether translations or additional evidence are required.

What to do if the bank asks for an explanation​

  1. Stay calm and respond through the bank’s official channels.
  2. Ask which transaction is being reviewed and exactly which documents are required.
  3. Provide the available evidence promptly. Explain any missing document and ask what alternative evidence the bank will accept.
Keep copies of what you submit and a record of the bank’s reference number or written instructions.

How to reduce avoidable delays​

  • Use a clear, accurate transfer description that reflects the payment’s real purpose.
  • Avoid receiving substantial sums on behalf of a friend or another third party without a legitimate, documented explanation.
  • Keep your customer information current and retain records supporting your actual income and account activity.
Do not split or disguise payments to try to avoid checks.

Practical takeaway​

Clear records make it easier for the bank to understand a transfer, including a large one. They can help resolve questions, although processing times and the final decision remain subject to the bank’s checks.


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