All About SEPA

All About SEPA

The proliferation of the euro currency and the increase in cross border trade throughout Europe hastened the need for a common financial payment structure. Ergo the SEPA format for the seamless transfer of cross border payments was established and agreed by the EU member states.

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) was also put in place to counteract the need to pay employees (credit transfers) who may have bank accounts outside the primary source of company accounts.

Now seamless payment can be made throughout the European Union and other territories, such as Vatican City. Transfers and payments also include transfers between banks within individual Euro zone countries, 34 countries in total.

What is a SEPA Payment?

Essentially SEPA is a form of financial instructions, set to a standard which all the banks throughout the EU understand, but only countries that have embraced the Euro. The transfers come in the form of credit transfers and direct debits.

Other Benefits & Charges Related to SEPA

The transfers are guaranteed to arrive as soon as the .xml drawn down date is assigned.

Banks cannot take deductions on payments (however, there are fees associated with taking direct debits, which will appear on your bank statements as bank fees).