General considerations

The Bundesbank offers account holders without a bank sort code a facility for settling Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) instant credit transfers within the SEPA area. These credit transfers, which are also called instant payments, are processed via the Customer Access Mechanism-Instant component (CAM-Instant).

The distinctive features of SEPA instant credit transfers:

• processing of payments within seconds;
• real-time transfers with lightning-fast execution confirmation;
• year-round, 24-hour processing (24/7/365);
• payees able to use funds immediately;
• maximum transaction amount (currently: €100,000).

Submission and delivery of payments

SEPA instant credit transfers can be submitted electronically via the Electronic Banking Internet Communication Standard (EBICS) or via online banking using Financial Transaction Services (FinTS).

Incoming SEPA instant credit transfers can be delivered via EBICS in the form of both individual and consolidated deliveries or via online banking through FinTS. Incoming SEPA instant credit transfers for accounts not connected to the system electronically are recorded on the account statement.

Should an account holder wish to be informed of incoming SEPA instant credit transfers, they can set up a credit notification via EBICS.

Processing and booking of payments

SEPA instant credit transfers are settled and debited to the submitter’s account in a matter of seconds. Incoming SEPA instant credit transfers are directly credited to the recipient’s account.

Procedural rules

For the purposes of the electronic provision of transaction information on SEPA instant credit transfers via EBICS, account holders without a bank sort code are required to observe the “Procedural rules of the Deutsche Bundesbank for other account holders without a bank sort code regarding the clearing and settlement of SEPA credit transfers submitted by data telecommunication (Procedural rules SEPA credit transfers for account holders without a bank sort code)”.