Single Euro Payments Area

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Single Euro Payments Area
Single Euro Payments Area logo.svg
Single euro payments area.svg
   Eurozone
  Other members of the European Union
  Other member states of the European Economic Area, and Switzerland
  Countries in the negotiating phase of the European Union Accession
  Microstates participating in SEPA
  United Kingdom (remaining in SEPA after Brexit) [1]
TypeUniform pan-European financial transactions framework
Participants
38 polities
Government Public-private hybrid administration subject to EU laws
• Public regulator
Euro Retail Payments Board
• Private regulator
European Payments Council
Currency Euro (€)

The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) is a payment integration initiative of the European Union for simplification of bank transfers denominated in euros. As of 2020, there were 36 members in SEPA, [2] consisting of the 27 member states of the European Union, the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), and the United Kingdom. [3] [4] [2] Some microstates participate in the technical schemes: Andorra, [5] Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. [3]

Contents

SEPA covers predominantly normal bank transfers. Payment methods which have additional optional features or services, such as mobile phone or smart card payment systems, are not directly covered. [6] However, the instant SEPA payment scheme facilitates payment products also on smart devices. [7]

Goals

The aim of SEPA as stated in 2008 was to improve the efficiency of cross-border payments and turn the previously fragmented national markets for euro payments into a single domestic one. SEPA would enable customers to make cashless euro payments to any account located anywhere in the area, using a single bank account and a single set of payment instruments. [8] People who have a bank account in a eurozone country can use it to receive salaries and make payments all over the eurozone, for example when they take a job in a new country.

The project includes the development of common financial instruments, standards, procedures, and infrastructure to enable economies of scale. As of 2007, it was estimated this could reduce the overall cost to the European economy of moving capital around the region by up to 2–3% of total GDP). [9] [ needs update ]

SEPA does not cover payments in currencies other than the euro. This means that domestic payments in SEPA countries not using the euro will continue to use local schemes, but cross-border payments will use SEPA and the euro with eurozone countries to a high degree.

The Nordic countries (other than Finland) do not use the euro and have no plans to adopt the euro. These four countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland) started initiatives during 2017–2019 for simpler, faster, and cheaper cross-border payments between one another. These initiatives have however not[ according to whom? ] been successful. [10]

Schemes

The different functionalities provided by SEPA are divided into separate payment schemes.

SEPA Credit Transfer

SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) allows for the transfer of funds from one bank account to another. SEPA clearing rules require that payments made before the cutoff point on a working day be credited to the recipient's account by the next working day. The scheme was introduced in January 2008. In February 2014 it replaced the national credit transfer schemes, and later made the use of International Bank Account Number mandatory for transfers. [11]

SEPA Instant Credit Transfer

SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst), also called SEPA Instant Payment, [12] provides for instant crediting of a payee, the delay being less than ten seconds, initially, with a maximum of twenty seconds in exceptional circumstances. [13] This scheme was launched in November 2017, and was at that time operational for end customers in eight Eurozone countries. [14] As of 2024, not all banks offer their customers instant transfers; however, in March 2024 the EU adopted the Instant Payments Regulation which requires all banks to offer instant transfers from January 2025 (incoming transfers) / October 2025 (outgoing transfers). [15]

Direct debit

Direct debit functionality is provided by two separate schemes. The basic scheme, Core SDD, is primarily targeted at consumers and was launched on 2 November 2009. [16] Banks offering SEPA payments are obliged to participate in this scheme. [17] A second scheme, B2B SDD, is targeted towards business users. Banks offering SEPA payments are not obliged to participate in this scheme (participation is optional). [17] Among the differences with respect to Core SDD: [17]

Coverage

SEPA consists of 38 countries: [4] [18]

All parts of a country are normally part of SEPA. However, the following countries have special territories which are not part of SEPA:

Jurisdictions using the euro that are not in SEPA: Akrotiri and Dhekelia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands and Kosovo. [22]

Jurisdictions in Europe not formally belonging to SEPA normally use SEPA schemes anyway for international euro payments, especially to or from the eurozone, with exceptions such as fees charged and BIC required.

Charges

SEPA guarantees that euro payments are received within a guaranteed time, and banks are not allowed to make any deductions of the amount transferred, introduced by a regulation in 2001. [23] Banks and payment institutions still have the option of charging a credit-transfer fee of their choice for euro transfers if it is charged uniformly to all EEA participants, banks or payment institutions, domestic or foreign. [24] This is relevant for countries which do not use the euro; where domestic transfers in euros by consumers are uncommon,[ clarification needed ] and inflated fees for euro transfers might be charged in these states. Sweden and Denmark have legislated that euro transfers shall be charged the same as transfers in their own currency; which has the effect of giving free euro ATM withdrawals, but charges for ATM withdrawals in other currencies used in the EU.

In regulation (EC) 924/2009 (the Cross-border Payments Regulation), the European Parliament mandated that charges in respect of cross-border payments in euros (of up to EUR 50,000) between EU member states shall be the same as the charges for corresponding payments within the member state. [25] [26] However, the EU Regulation does not apply to all SEPA countries; the most significant difference is the inclusion of Switzerland in SEPA but not the EU. The rule of the same price applies even if the transaction is sent as an international transaction instead of a SEPA transaction (common before 2008, or if any involved bank does not support SEPA transactions). Regulation 924/2009 does not regulate charges for currency conversion so charges for non-euro transactions can still be applied (if not banned by national law). [27]

History

There were two milestones in the establishment of SEPA:

For direct debits, the first milestone was missed due to a delay in the implementation of enabling legislation (the Payment Services Directive or PSD) in the European Parliament. Direct debits became available in November 2009, which put time pressure on the second milestone. [28]

The European Commission has established the legal foundation through the PSD. The commercial and technical frameworks for payment instruments were developed by the European Payments Council (EPC), made up of European banks. The EPC is committed to delivering three pan-European payment instruments:

To provide end-to-end automated direct payment processing for SEPA-clearing, the EPC committed to delivering technical validation subsets of ISO 20022. Whereas bank-to-bank messages (pacs) are mandatory for use, customer-to-bank payment initialization (PAIN) message types are not; however, they are strongly recommended. Because there is room for interpretation, it is expected that several PAIN specifications will be published in SEPA countries.

Businesses, merchants, consumers and governments are also interested in the development of SEPA. The European Associations of Corporate Treasurers (EACT), TWIST, the European Central Bank, the European Commission, the European Payments Council, the European Automated Clearing House Association (EACHA), payments processors and pan-European banking associations – European Banking Federation (EBF), European Association of Co-operative Banks (EACB) and the European Savings Banks Group (ESBG) – are playing an active role in defining the services which SEPA will deliver.

Since January 2008, banks have been switching customers to the new payment instruments. By 2010, the majority were expected to be on the SEPA framework. As a result, banks throughout the SEPA area (not just the Eurozone) need to invest in technology with the capacity to support SEPA payment instruments.

SEPA clearance is based on the International Bank Account Numbers (IBAN). Domestic euro transactions are routed by IBAN; earlier national-designation schemes were abolished by February 2014 (with delays in some countries), providing uniform access to the new payment instruments. Since February 2016 Eurozone payment system users no longer require BIC sorting information for SEPA transactions; it is automatically derived from the IBAN for all banks in the SEPA area.

An instant 24/7/365 payment scheme named SCT Inst went live on 21 November 2017 allowing instant payment 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. [29] The participating banks will handle the user interface and security, like for existing SEPA payments, e.g. web sites and mobile apps. [30]

Key dates

1957 Treaty of Rome creates the European Community.
1992 Maastricht Treaty creates the euro.
1999Introduction of the euro as an electronic currency, including introduction of the RTGS system TARGET for large-value transfers.
2000 Lisbon Strategy: Meeting creates European Financial Services Action Plan.
2001EC Regulation 2560/2001 harmonises fees for cross-border and domestic euro transactions. [24]
2002Introduction of Euro banknotes and coins.
2003First Pan-European Automated Clearing House (PE-ACH) goes live; EC Regulation 2560/2001 comes into force for transactions up to €12,500.
2006EC Regulation 2560/2001 increases ceiling on same-price euro transactions to €50,000.
2008SEPA pan-European payment instruments become operational (parallel to domestic instruments) on 28 January [31]
2009 Payment Services Directive (PSD) enacted in national laws by November.
2010SEPA payments become dominant form of electronic payments.
2011SEPA payments replace national payments in the Eurozone.
20141 August: Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) becomes fully operational in all Eurozone countries. [32]
2016Since 31 October 2016, payment service providers (PSPs) in non-euro countries are only able to collect euro-denominated payments using SEPA procedures. Non-euro schemes, such as the UK's Direct Debit, continue without change. [33]
2017Since 21 November 2017, instant SEPA payments of up to 15,000 euros within 10 seconds become available (optional participation for PSPs). [34]
2019On 1 March 2019 Andorra and Vatican City join SEPA.
2021On 1 January 2021 the United Kingdom leaves the EU but remains in SEPA payment schemes, subject to different rules. [1]
2023On 8 November 2023, the European Commission adopted a new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, with the aim of bringing them closer to the EU through offering some of the benefits of EU membership to the region in advance of accession. One of the priority actions is access to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). [35]
2024On 30 January 2024, the National Bank of Moldova submitted an application for membership in SEPA. [36] Moldova's National Bank Governor expected the application and evaluation stage to take a year.
2024On 12 June 2024, the National Bank of Albania signs the official application for membership in SEPA. [37]
2024On 17 June 2024, the National Bank of Serbia publishes the draft version of the decision for accessing SEPA. [38]
2024On 1 July 2024, the Central Bank of Montenegro submitted an application for membership in SEPA. [39]
2024On 11 July 2024, the National Bank of North Macedonia submitted an application for membership in SEPA. [40]
2024On 21 November 2024, the European Comission welcomed Albania and Montenegro in SEPA. [41]

Uptake

As of August 2014, 99.4% of credit transfers,[ clarification needed ] 99.9% of direct debit, and 79.2% of card payments have been migrated to SEPA in the euro area. [42]

The official progress report was published in March 2013. [43]

In October 2010, the European Central Bank published its seventh progress report on SEPA. [44] The European Central Bank regards SEPA as an essential element to advance the usability and maturity of the euro.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Brexit from 1 January 2021 onwards: get ready for the end of the transition period". European Payments Council . 14 July 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 "SEPA". European Central Bank. 21 January 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Extension of the geographical scope of SEPA schemes in March 2019". European Payments Council. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 "List of SEPA countries {Updated 2020 version}". B2B Pay powered by Barclays. 7 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Andorra becomes a member of the Single euro payments area (SEPA) • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra". 23 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2012 establishing technical and business requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euro and amending Regulation (EC) No 924/2009: article 1 point 3
  7. ↑ "Instant payments (section "For consumers")". Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB). 30 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Solution: SEPA, the single euro payments area". European Central Bank. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  9. ↑ "Agreement reached on cross-border banking". RTÉ News. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  10. ↑ https://nordicpayments.eu/ [ bare URL ]
  11. ↑ "SEPA Credit Transfer". www.bundesbank.de. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  12. ↑ Groenfeldt, Tom. "Payments Are Moving To Real-Time Around The World, The U.S. Plays Catch-Up". Forbes. Retrieved 7 December 2018. The use of credit cards isn't as prevalent in Europe where retailers are using the SEPA instant payment scheme.
  13. ↑ "Introduction". Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Launch of the SEPA Instant Credit Transfer scheme" (PDF).
  15. ↑ Regulation (EU) 2024/886 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2024 amending Regulations (EU) No 260/2012 and (EU) 2021/1230 and Directives 98/26/EC and (EU) 2015/2366 as regards instant credit transfers in euro
  16. 1 2 3 EUROPA – Press Releases – Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA): cross-border direct debits now a reality EUROPA (European Union), 3 November 2009; Retrieved 4 February 2011
  17. 1 2 3 "Difference between SEPA Core and B2B". 1 March 2013.
  18. ↑ "SEPA IBAN and countries". narvi.com. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  19. ↑ "Comunicato della Sala Stampa della Santa Sede". press.vatican.va.
  20. ↑ "Albania is now part of the SEPA payment schemes' geographical scope".
  21. ↑ "Montenegro is now part of the SEPA payment schemes' geographical scope".
  22. 1 2 "The Boundaries of SEPA-land" (PDF). Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  23. ↑ Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) – frequently asked questions. Brussels, 31 July 2014.
  24. 1 2 Regulation (EC) No 2560/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2001 on cross-border payments in euro
  25. ↑ Cross-border payments in euro: Regulation on equality of charges, European Commission European Commission, 19 September 2013
  26. ↑ Regulation (EC) No 924/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on cross-border payments in the Community and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2560/2001
  27. ↑ Regulation (EC) No 924/2009 ... Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (see point 9)
  28. ↑ "Joint statement by the European Commission and the European Central Bank welcoming the European Parliament's adoption of the Payment Services Directive". Europa (web portal) (Press release). European Union. 24 April 2007. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  29. ↑ "Successful go-live for EBA CLEARING's instant payment system RT1". ebaclearing.eu. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  30. ↑ "Instant payments". Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB). 30 May 2023.
  31. ↑ "Single Euro Payments Area kicks in, EU – European Information on Financial Services". EurActiv.com. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  32. ↑ Vice-President Michel Barnier welcomes major milestone for the internal payments market with the migration to SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area). Brussels, 1 August 2014.
  33. ↑ "Migrating to the Single Euro Payments Area: key facts". European Central Bank. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  34. ↑ "Launch of the SEPA Instant Credit Transfer scheme" (PDF). European Payments Council. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  35. ↑ "New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans". European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  36. ↑ "'Historic Day': Moldova Applies To Join Single European Payments System". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty. Radio Free Europe.
  37. ↑ "Draft Bank of Albania signs the official application for membership in SEPA". The National Bank of Albania. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  38. ↑ "Draft Decision on special rules for the execution of authorization transfers and direct debits in euros". National bank of Serbia. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  39. ↑ "Montenegro submitted an application for membership in the SEPA: A step towards less costly and faster cross-border payments for citizens and the economy". Central Bank of Montenegro. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  40. ↑ "The National Bank submitted an application for membership in SEPA". National Bank of North Macedonia. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  41. ↑ "European Commission welcomes inclusion of Albania and Montenegro in the Single Euro Payments Area". European Commission. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  42. ↑ ECB. Key figures: SEPA indicators at a glance (euro area).
  43. ↑ "Quantitative indicators" (PDF). European Central Bank. March 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  44. ↑ "Single Euro Payments Area Seventh Progress Report: Beyond Theory into Practice" (PDF). European Central Bank. October 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2013.

SEPA VS SWIFT: UNDERSTANDING INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSFERS

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