Payment Order in Electronic Funds Transfer as Assignment Offer

This article discusses Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) based on an assignment framework. Payment order in EFT is considered to be an assignment offer. If the Fund Transfer is considered on this basis, it must contain conditions for the emergence of an assignment and its legal consequences. In this respect, debt or credit as subject matter of this agreement is available in most cases of EFT, even if there is no debtor and creditor relationship between the issuer of the payment order and beneficiary. In terms of intent for creation an assignment, since the issuer is willing to transfer funds that is being holding by bank and there is no need for debtor’s consent and there is no fiduciary relationship between them, the legal relationship created between the issuer and the bank has to be interfered as an assignment. As regards consequences, by accepted this idea, the right of the bank to reject Fund Transfer order can easily be interpreted. Having said that, what a bank does on order after receipt of payment order should not be considered to be the acceptance of the offer, because this is a regular and preliminary process. Since the doctrine is not able to respond to some situations for Fund Transfer, including Fund Transfer to another account of the issuer, it has been subject to some criticisms.