SEPA XML Generator& IBAN Validator

The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) is a payment integration initiative of the European Union for simplification of bank transfers denominated in euros. SEPA makes it possible to make cashless euro payments to anyone located anywhere in the SEPA zone using a single bank account and a single set of payment instruments.

SEPA covers 36 European countries including all 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Vatican City, and the United Kingdom. Over 500 million people and more than 20 million businesses use SEPA for their euro transactions.

For businesses processing European payments, understanding SEPA XML formats and IBAN validation is essential for automated payment processing, compliance with banking standards, and seamless integration with European banking systems.

IBAN is an internationally agreed system of identifying bank accounts across national borders. It was originally developed to facilitate payments within the European Union but has now been adopted by many countries worldwide. An IBAN consists of up to 34 alphanumeric characters comprising a country code, check digits, and a long and detailed bank account number.

IBAN Structure

Every IBAN follows a standardized format with four main components:

• Country Code (2 letters): ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (e.g., DE for Germany, FR for France, GB for United Kingdom)
• Check Digits (2 digits): Calculated using mod-97 algorithm for validation
• Bank Identifier: Variable length code identifying the bank (SWIFT/BIC or national bank code)
• Account Number: Domestic bank account number, may include branch code

Example IBANs by Country

• Germany (DE): DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00 (22 characters)
• France (FR): FR14 2004 1010 0505 0001 3M02 606 (27 characters)
• United Kingdom (GB): GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19 (22 characters)
• Netherlands (NL): NL91 ABNA 0417 1643 00 (18 characters)
• Spain (ES): ES91 2100 0418 4502 0005 1332 (24 characters)

IBAN Validation Process

Our tool validates IBANs through multiple steps: checking the country code against ISO 3166-1, verifying the correct length for that country, validating the check digits using the mod-97 algorithm, and checking the format of the bank identifier and account number. This ensures the IBAN is structurally correct before attempting any payment transactions.

The pain.001 (Payment Initiation) message is an ISO 20022 standard XML format used to initiate credit transfers in the SEPA scheme. "pain" stands for "Payment Initiation" and the numbers indicate the message type and version. pain.001.001.03 is the most commonly used version for SEPA credit transfers.

Key Elements of pain.001

• Group Header (GrpHdr): Contains message identification, creation date/time, number of transactions, control sum, and initiating party information. This is the container for the entire payment batch.
• Payment Information (PmtInf): Groups individual transactions with common characteristics like payment method, debtor account, and execution date. Each payment file can contain multiple payment information blocks.
• Credit Transfer Transaction Information (CdtTrfTxInf): Contains details of individual transactions including payment ID, amount, creditor information, and remittance data. This is where the actual payment details are specified.
• Debtor & Creditor Details: IBAN, BIC/SWIFT codes, and party names for both payer and payee.

ISO 20022 Standard

ISO 20022 is the international standard for financial messaging. It provides a common platform for the development of messages using a standardized methodology and a common repository of reusable components. The standard covers financial information transferred between financial institutions and their customers, as well as financial institutions operating in financial markets.

The key advantage of ISO 20022 over older formats like SWIFT MT messages is the use of XML, which provides richer data, better structure, and improved automation capabilities. It allows for more detailed payment information, better handling of regulatory requirements, and easier integration with modern banking systems.

• ✓
  IBAN Validation: Comprehensive validation including country code verification, length checking, mod-97 algorithm validation, and format verification. Works for all SEPA countries and many non-SEPA countries.
• 💶
  SEPA XML Generation: Create ISO 20022 compliant pain.001.001.03 XML files ready for submission to your bank. Includes all required fields and proper XML structure.
• 🔒
  Privacy-Focused: All processing happens locally in your browser. Your sensitive banking information never touches our servers, ensuring complete confidentiality.
• ⚡
  Instant Processing: Generate XML files and validate IBANs in milliseconds. No server round-trips means faster processing and better reliability.
• 🌍
  All SEPA Countries: Support for all 36 SEPA countries with country-specific IBAN format validation and proper XML generation.
• 📥
  Easy Export: Download generated XML files instantly. Files are properly formatted and ready for import into your banking software or online banking portal.

💼 Business Payments

Automate supplier payments, employee salary transfers, and vendor invoices. Generate SEPA XML files for bulk payment processing through your corporate banking portal. Ideal for companies processing regular European payments who want to streamline their payment operations and reduce manual data entry errors.

🏦 Banking Integration

Integrate payment file generation into your ERP, accounting, or financial management systems. Use our tool as a reference implementation for building your own SEPA payment generators. Essential for software developers building financial applications that need to support European payment standards.

🛒 E-commerce & Marketplaces

Process payouts to sellers and vendors in European marketplaces. Generate payment files for affiliate commissions, refunds, and marketplace settlements. Critical for platforms operating across multiple European countries that need efficient payout processing.

🏢 Accounting & Finance

Validate IBAN numbers before processing payments to avoid costly rejected transactions. Generate payment files directly from accounting software exports. Used by accountants, bookkeepers, and finance teams managing international payments.

1. Always Validate Before Paying: Use the IBAN validator before initiating any payment. Invalid IBANs will result in rejected payments and may incur bank fees. Double-check both IBAN and BIC codes.
2. Test with Small Amounts: When first using generated XML files with your bank, test with small payment amounts to ensure proper formatting and acceptance. Each bank may have slightly different requirements.
3. Keep Records: Save copies of generated XML files for your records and audit trail. Include the end-to-end reference ID for tracking and reconciliation purposes.
4. Use Descriptive References: Include clear payment references in the remittance information field. This helps beneficiaries identify the payment purpose and improves reconciliation.
5. Verify Bank Requirements: Check with your bank regarding specific requirements for XML submission, file size limits, and any additional fields they may require beyond the ISO 20022 standard.

Banking information is highly sensitive and requires maximum security:

• ✅ 100% Client-Side Processing: All validation and generation happens in your browser
• ✅ Zero Server Communication: Your IBAN, BIC, and payment data never leave your device
• ✅ No Data Storage: We don't store, log, or track any banking information
• ✅ Offline Capable: Save the page and use it without an internet connection
• ✅ Open Source Validation: Based on publicly available IBAN validation algorithms