Hero: International payments can be arranged many different ways, albeit through traditional banking methods or with the help of a money transfer service; but not all overseas remittances are processed the same way. In this guide we will be running through the differences between SEPA and SWIFT, identifying what areas these types of payments cover and when customers will need to gather this sort of information.
Customers sending funds to a foreign country may choose to arrange a money transfer over the phone, online or in person. Regardless of the method used to set up the payment, customers are likely to encounter references to “SEPA” and “SWIFT.” For many people, this terminology will be alien to them, so in this guide we hope to explain the meaning and provide context for both terms.
SEPA stands for Single Euro Payments Area; a SEPA transfer is a cross-border payment made between the countries within this area. The SEPA zone is a European Union (EU) initiative that was designed to harmonise Euro transfers.
Sometimes also referred to as a BIC (Business Identifier Code), a SWIFT code is an 8 to 11 digit alphanumeric code created and used by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication network, to identify the bank or financial institution sending or receiving an overseas money transfer. Each of the 8 to 11 characters provides crucial details such as the address, branch number and destination country of the associated remittance.
The following countries are participants in the SEPA zone:
Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy | Latvia Lichtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania San Marino Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland |
As it stands, as of July 2021, a total of 212 countries worldwide participate in the SWIFT network, and approximately 40% of all international money transfers are made using the SWIFT network. Countries such as China, Russia, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Lebanon, North Korea, Sudan and Ukraine do not use the SWIFT network.
SEPA payments are designed to be as secure and easy to set up as domestic bank transfers. This is achieved through the cooperation of financial institutions and banks across Europe, who support SEPA payments as part of a bigger network of intermediary and receiving affiliate banks. This network of SEPA affiliates are able to process Euro transfers seamlessly and without any complications.
The European Payments Council (EPC), responsible for the development of SEPA, has established two different payment schemes to suit the needs of sending and receiving parties: the SEPA Direct Debit and SEPA Credit Transfer.
Instructions of payments sent via the SWIFT network are communicated between the banks or financial institutions that initiated the transfer, in a secure, encrypted way. Although funds are not transported via the SWIFT network, the instructions communicate exactly what needs to happen for the money to be deposited in the correct account.
No, as of 2016 senders no longer need to provide the SWIFT code/BIC of their beneficiary when making a SEPA payment.
It is important for anyone arranging an international money transfer to understand and identify the differences between a SWIFT and SEPA payment:
Although there are a number of differences between SEPA and SWIFT transfers, the SWIFT network and SEPA zone were both designed to simplify and streamline global transfers across borders. Whether you’re an individual or a business arranging remittances with SWIFT or SEPA, rest assured that a seamless transfer is guaranteed.
April is a trained journalist and the Content Editor for MoneyTransfers.com. She has 10 years experience writing about a diverse range of subjects, from financial services to arts and entertainment. When she’s not writing about global remittances she can be found daydreaming about her next holiday abroad.