Valutadatum

Valutadatum, literally “value date,” is the date on which a financial transaction is treated as effective for the recipient’s account and for purposes such as balance reporting and interest accrual. It may differ from the transaction date (when the instruction was issued) and from the posting date (when the transaction is recorded in the bank’s ledger).

In banking and payments, the value date is the date on which funds become available to the beneficiary and the recipient’s balance is adjusted. Processing systems, intermediaries, and clearing houses determine the actual value date, taking into account settlement calendars, time zones, and cut-off times. International transfers often have value dates that are several business days after the original instruction due to cross-border processing.

In securities markets, the term is used to denote when the cash and securities transfer is settled. This aligns with a market’s settlement cycle, such as T+2 or T+3 in many jurisdictions, but can vary by instrument and market. Valutadatum is also the date used by banks to calculate interest on funds; in many cases it equals the value date, though processing delays can make it later than the initial booking date.

Related terms include Buchungstag, the booking or posting date when a transaction is entered in the bank’s records, and Valuta or Valutadatum, the effective date for interest and balance purposes. Understanding the distinction helps with interest calculation, customer statements, and reconciliation.