Important Note: SEPA Rulebook Changes have been rescheduled and are now due to take effect in March 2024.

Overview of change – Bulk File Submitters

The SEPA Rulebook changes will be operational as of 17 March 2024. The changes will see the implementation of the 2019 version of the ISO20022 XSDs. These changes are not mandatory at this time.

Bulk file submitters can:

• Continue to submit the existing PAIN.001 (CT) and PAIN.008 (DD) file versions, with no impact to current processes

OR

• Choose to submit the new version PAIN.001 and PAIN.008 file versions, which include some new and renamed tags.

If you continue to submit the existing file formats

There will be no impact to the processes you currently have in place if you continue to submit either of the existing PAIN.001.001.03 or PAIN.008.001.02 file versions. Your files must continue to adhere to the existing file XSD specifications, and you will continue to receive the existing PAIN.002.001.03 report. Customers should ensure that for any addresses in a PAIN.008 file, both ‘Address Line’ and ‘Country Code’ tags are to be provided.”

If you choose to submit the new file formats

If you choose to submit the new PAIN.001.001.09 or PAIN.008.001.08 file formats, you must ensure that the files adhere to the new file XSD specifications. You will also receive the new version PAIN.002.001.10 report for any r-messages associated with these files.

File Specification and XSDs

All existing and new file specifications and XSDs are listed in their respective ‘Forms & Checklists’ section.

No changes to payment channels

There are no changes to the file submission and authorisation channels, File Gateway and Payments Plus. The steps to submit a new version CT or DD file, and the file name requirements, are the same as the steps and requirements for the existing file formats.

Remember to familiarise yourself with the new file formats

Whether you choose to use the new version file formats or not, we strongly recommend you familiarise yourself with the new file versions and the new/renamed tags, as some of these changes will become mandatory in future SEPA Rulebook changes in November 2025.

What’s different in the new version?

The new file formats will see the addition of new tags and the renaming of some existing tags. See below for more details.

New Tags: Structured address

The majority of the newly introduced tags are related to the introduction of Structured Address. Thirteen new tags will be available for both debtor and creditor addresses. When using the structured address, bulk file submitters must ensure that, at a minimum, ‘Town Name’ and ‘Country Code’ tags are used. Where the new structured address tags are being used, submitters cannot use any other unstructured address Line tags, other than ‘Country’.

Please review the SEPA Direct Debit or Credit Transfer Customer Guides for more information.

New Tags: LEI (Legal Entity Identifier)

The LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) is a 20 character alpha-numeric code used to uniquely identify parties to financial transactions worldwide. It has been implemented to improve the quality and accuracy of financial data reporting systems for better transparency and risk management. This is an optional tag.

New Tags: Proxy (applicable to Credit Transfer file submitters only)

The Proxy tag will allow bulk file submitters to provide an additional identifier, such as a mobile phone number or email. IBAN will continue to be the primary identifier for transactions. This is an optional tag.

New Tags: Date (applicable to Credit Transfer file submitters only)

The existing ‘ReqdExctnDt’ tag will now have a child tag, ‘Dt’, where the requested execution date data must be entered. There will be no change to the format of the date provided.

Renamed Tags:

• ‘BIC’ tags will be renamed ‘BICFI’.
• ‘BICorBEI’ tags will be renamed ‘AnyBIC’.

The renaming of the above tags will be relevant across both CT and DD file Types.

File Specification/Format Legend

We recommend that Bulk File submitters check with their IT Department/Software providers with regards to the changes out above. For further information submitters should contact our Business On Line Customer Helpdesk by emailing BOLPaymentsPlus@boi.com or calling 0818 818 265 (9am to 5pm, Monday – Friday).

Important payment information

From 15 to 17 March 2024, there will be scheduled system maintenance so that SEPA Scheme Rulebook changes can be made. All customers are advised that there will be impacts to SEPA payments to non-BOI Customers during this period.

What is a SEPA Payment?

A SEPA payment is to a person or organisation (known as a payee) whose bank is in the SEPA zone (including Ireland). For more information on SEPA Countries click here.

Delays to payments

Individual Euro Payments and Bulk Files with a value date or processing date of the 15 March to payees outside of Bank of Ireland will not receive payment until Monday, 18 March.

For payments processed on a Friday with a Monday payment date, it would be normal for payees in some banks to have access to these funds over the weekend. However, on this particular weekend, non-BOI Payees will not have access to funds until Monday, 18 March.

No impact to BOI payees

BOI payees will not be impacted and will receive their payments as normal.

Please review your payment needs

We recommend that you review your payment needs, especially salary or wages payments scheduled over this period. If a payee requires access to funds on Friday 15 March, Saturday 16 March or Sunday 17 March, at the latest, these payments should be submitted with a value date of Thursday 14 March, for payment on Friday 15 March.

Payment types impacted are shown below:

All SEPA member banks will be affected

Given the regulatory nature of these changes, all SEPA member banks will be impacted. Due to similar system maintenance across the SEPA Banking Industry over this weekend, Bank of Ireland customers should note the potential for delays to incoming SEPA payments.

BOI UK Customers: There will be no impact to domestic Sterling payments over this period. Euro Payments originating from BOI UK accounts, to payees within the SEPA zone will not be impacted either. Incoming Euro SEPA payments to BOI UK accounts will be received slightly later than usual over the weekend

Current File Specifications

• Pain.008.001.02.BOI.06.xsd

New File Specifications – SEPA Rulebook 2023

• Pain.008.001.08.BOI.02.xsd

Additional Guides

Current File Specifications

• Pain.001.001.03.BOI.xsd

New File Specifications – SEPA Rulebook 2023

• Pain.001.001.09.BOI.01.xsd

Additional Guides