# Statement Descriptor
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/mastercard-send/documentation/implementation/statement-descriptor/index.md

The statement descriptor is a short string of information that Mastercard passes in the Funding/Payment Transaction network message to the Funding Issuer/Receiving Institution (Issuer) for inclusion in the account statement. It helps identify the Sender or OI/TI for a transfer.

**NOTE:** Issuers control what is shown on an account statement. While most Issuers display this information consistently, some might display it inconsistently or not at all. However, a statement descriptor must still be provided in the network message to the Issuer.

The statement descriptor typically consists of two parts, **Prefix** and **Content**, separated by an asterisk (\*) when both parts are used: {Prefix}\*{Content}, for example, 'AB Bank\*Claim 12345'. The statement descriptor is alphanumeric and can include spaces and some special characters (\& \* ' , - . _ \~), and it can be up to 22 characters in length:

* The Prefix part (including the asterisk) must be 4-8 characters and can be configured by Mastercard during onboarding.
* The Content (and optionally the Prefix) is provided as the `statement_descriptor` value in the funding/payment API requests.

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There are two options for participants:

|                  Option                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Meaning                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Mastercard configures the Prefix         | * The same static Prefix will be used for the OI/TI in all transaction network messages. The Prefix is prepended to the Content provided in the API requests. * If the `statement_descriptor` value in the API request includes an asterisk (for example, 'AB Bank\*Claim 12345'), the characters preceding it ('AB Bank') will be treated as the Prefix and checked against the configured prefix. If it does not match, an error will be returned. The `statement_descriptor` value cannot contain multiple asterisks (for example, 'AB Bank\*Claim\*12345'). |
| Mastercard does not configure the Prefix | * The OI/TI can include the Prefix in every funding/payment API request, allowing it to provide a different Prefix for each transaction network message. * The OI/TI must provide Content in every funding/payment API request, otherwise Mastercard will use the business partner name (up to 22 characters) configured for the OI/TI, which is not recommended. * The `statement_descriptor` value in the API request can include multiple asterisks.                                                                                                         |

For person-to-person (P2P) and account-to-account (A2A) programs, the statement descriptor must include the Sender first name or initial plus the Sender last name, for example, 'Jane Smith' or 'J Smith'. Other Personally identifiable information (PII) data is not permitted in the statement descriptor.

## Examples {#examples}

These examples show how different `statement_descriptor` values in the API request will be processed to form the statement descriptor, depending on whether Mastercard has configured a Prefix.

### Mastercard configures a Prefix of 'AB Bank' {#mastercard-configures-a-prefix-of-ab-bank}

| `statement_descriptor` Value in API Request | Value Passed in Network Message |                                     Reason                                     |
|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| *None*                                      | AB Bank                         | Configured Prefix used                                                         |
| Claim 12345                                 | AB Bank\*Claim 12345            | Configured Prefix prepended to API value                                       |
| AB Bank\*Claim 12345                        | AB Bank\*Claim 12345            | Prefix part in API request matches configured Prefix                           |
| XY Bank\*Claim 12345                        | *Error*                         | Prefix part in API request does not match configured Prefix                    |
| AB Bank\*Claim\*12345                       | *Error*                         | 2nd asterisk present                                                           |
| Claim Payment 12345                         | *Error*                         | Full statement descriptor (AB Bank\*Claim Payment 12345) exceeds 22 characters |

### Mastercard does not configure a Prefix {#mastercard-does-not-configure-a-prefix}

| `statement_descriptor` Value in API Request | Value Passed in Network Message |                                      Reason                                      |
|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| *None*                                      | AB Bank Worldwide               | Configured business partner name used (not recommended)                          |
| Claim 12345                                 | Claim 12345                     | API request value used                                                           |
| AB Bank\*Claim 12345                        | AB Bank\*Claim 12345            | API request value used                                                           |
| XY Bank\*Claim 12345                        | XY Bank\*Claim 12345            | API request value used                                                           |
| AB Bank\*Claim\*12345                       | AB Bank\*Claim\*12345           | API request value used, multiple asterisks allowed                               |
| AB Bank\*Claim Payment 12345                | *Error*                         | Exceeds 22 characters                                                            |
| AB\*Claim 12345                             | *Error*                         | Prefix part in API request is less than 4 characters (including the asterisk)    |
| ABC Bank\*Claim 12345                       | *Error*                         | Prefix part in API request is greater than 8 characters (including the asterisk) |