Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
Thanks to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), customers can make cashless euro payments – via credit transfer and direct debit – to anywhere in the European Union, as well as a number of non-EU countries, in a fast, safe and efficient way, just like national payments. SEPA was introduced for credit transfers in 2008, followed by direct debits in 2009, and fully implemented by 2014 in the euro area (and by 2016 in non-euro area SEPA countries).
The payment integration triggered by SEPA has contributed to the efficiency and competitiveness of the European economy as a whole by eliminating differences between national and cross-border payments by harmonising standards in all the participating countries. The legal framework for SEPA – which the ECB helped to draw up in close cooperation with the European Commission – is based mainly on the Cross-border payments Regulation, the Payment Services Directive (PSD/PSD2), the SEPA migration end-date Regulation, and the Interchange Fee Regulation.
SEPA was launched by the European banking and payments industry with the support of national governments, the European Commission, the Eurosystem, and other public authorities. As SEPA not only harmonised the way non-cash euro payments are conducted, but also completed the introduction of the euro as the single currency, the Eurosystem had a very strong interest in the success of the SEPA project.
Participation
The SEPA region consists of 36 European countries, including several countries which are not part of the euro area or the European Union (status: 2 January 2023).
Interactive map of countries in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
Please select a country
Austria
EU member using the euro
EU member since 1995
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Belgium
EU member using the euro
EU founding member in 1957
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Bulgaria
EU member not using the euro
EU member since 2007
Cyprus
EU member using the euro
EU member since 2004
Euro since 2008
Czech Republic
EU member not using the euro
EU member since 2004
Germany
EU member using the euro
EU founding member in 1957
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Denmark
EU member not using the euro
EU member since 1973
Estonia
EU member using the euro
EU member since 2004
Euro since 2011
Spain
EU member using the euro
EU member since 1986
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Finland
EU member using the euro
EU member since 1995
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
France
EU member using the euro
EU founding member in 1957
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Greece
EU member using the euro
EU member since 1981
Euro since 2001 (cash since 2002)
Croatia
EU member using the euro
EU member since 2013
Euro since 2023
Hungary
EU member not using the euro
EU member since 2004
Ireland
EU member using the euro
EU member since 1973
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Italy
EU member using the euro
EU founding member in 1957
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Lithuania
EU member using the euro
EU member since 2004
Euro since 2015
Luxembourg
EU member using the euro
EU founding member in 1957
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Latvia
EU member using the euro
EU member since 2004
Euro since 2014
Monaco
Non-EU country
Malta
EU member using the euro
EU member since 2004
Euro since 2008
The Netherlands
EU member using the euro
EU founding member in 1957
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Poland
EU member not using the euro
EU member since 2004
Portugal
EU member using the euro
EU member since 1986
Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)
Romania
EU member not using the euro
EU member since 2007
Sweden
EU member not using the euro
EU member since 1995
Slovenia
EU member using the euro
EU member since 2004
Euro since 2007
Slovakia
EU member using the euro
EU member since 2004
Euro since 2009
San Marino
Non-EU country
In addition to the highlighted countries; Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican City State / Holy See are also part of SEPA.
Facts & figures
| Name | Single Euro Payments Area |
|---|---|
| Implementation year | 2014 for euro area countries 2016 for non-euro area SEPA countries |
| Currency | Euro |
| Cashless payment instruments | Credit transfer, direct debit |
| Speed of processing | No longer than one business day for electronic payment orders; two business days for paper-based payment orders |
| SEPA area | 36 countries (includes some non-euro area and non-EU countries) (status: 1 March 2019) |
| Stakeholders | European banking and payments industry, payment service users, national governments, the European Commission, the Eurosystem, and several other public authorities. |
| The role of the Eurosystem | Catalyst |