Using addresses in connection with payment transactions
- SEPA payments;
- SEPA direct debits; and
- Foreign payments.
We now recommend using a structured address; this means that each part of the address has its own designated field (e.g. street, town, post code, country). This allows payments to be processed faster and more reliably.
Supported elements of a structured address:
| Element XML | Required for Foreign payments | Required for SEPA payments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulice / Street | <StrtNm> | yes | no |
| Číslo budovy / Building Number | <BldgNb> | no, but required for payments in USD and to the USA | no |
| PSČ / Post Code | <PstCd> | no, but required for payments in USD and to the USA | no |
| Mesto / Town | <TwnNm> | yes | no, but required for payments outside the EU/EEA |
| Región / Country Sub Division | <CtrySubDvsn> | no, but required for payments in USD and to the USA | no |
| Krajina / Country | <Ctry> | yes | no, but required for payments outside the EU/EEA |
Important: A payment order with an address that does not have the required fields filled in cannot be accepted for processing.
<Nm>JAN TRADER</Nm>
<PstlAdr><StrtNm>BUSINESS STREET</StrtNm><BldgNb>100</BldgNb><PstCd>70007</PstCd><TwnNm>BERN</TwnNm><Ctry>CH</Ctry></PstlAdr>
The use of structured addresses contributes to automated payment processing and reduces the risk of payment suspension due to additional sanctions screening or AML checks.
In addition to a structured address, you can also use a hybrid address, which combines a structured address – where the town and country are required elements – with up to two lines of an unstructured address (2 x 70 characters).
Note: The content of the structured part may not be duplicated in the “AddressLine” element.
- Make sure that you are entering structured addresses in your systems.
- If this is not the case:
- Please updatethe data in you raccounting system to support the structured format;
- If necessary, contacty our accounting system provider and request a modification. .
- Verify that you are entering the payee’s full address in line with the recommendations for individual countries
- Online one-time payments: starting as of 20 June 2026;
- XML import: is already supported;
- Import in BEST and EDIBEST formats: starting as of 20 June 2026.
The current versions of these formats do not support structured addresses. Therefore, we have updated the format specifications for Foreign payments imports to enable the secure transmission of structured data regarding the payee and the payee’s bank.
However, you must provide the revised format specifications to your accounting system provider and request their implementation.