Overview of SEPA

SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area, is European-driven regulation which aims to create one single, integrated and standardised payments market making it easier to do business across Europe.

Questions about SEPA payments

  • Where do I find my BIC & IBAN?

    You can locate your BIC and IBAN on 365 online by:

    1. Logging into 365 Online;
    2. Expanding the Alt text symbol on the homepage.

    You can also find both your BIC and IBAN on an eStatement/Paper Statement or you can also use our IBAN Calculator.

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  • If I make a manual payment to my credit card, will this reduce the amount of my next direct debit payment?

    Yes it will but it all depends on timing. Here’s how it works:

    Existing direct debits We need to receive the payment from you at least 4 working days before the date your direct debit is due.

    New/ Amended direct debits We need to receive the payment from you at least 7 working days before the date your direct debit is due.

    Remember: Mondays to Fridays are ‘working days’. Saturday and Sunday are not.

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  • Can I see more detailed information about a SEPA direct debit?

    Yes, this is one of the benefits of SEPA and is available 24 hours after the direct debit has left your account. Select the Statements option on the left-hand side of the main 365 online screen. On the Statements screen, select ‘Recent Transactions’ then the account and month that you want to check.

    Take a look at your list of recent transactions and click on the small arrow icon beside any SEPA direct debit and you can view more information on the transaction, for example, the Unique Mandate Reference and Creditor ID.

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  • I noticed that a payment into my account was delayed - why is that?

    Bank of Ireland will always process credits as soon as possible when we receive them from other banks but, under SEPA, credits may now arrive in your account up to 5 pm. Some weekend payments which may in the past have been credited to your account on a Saturday, may now be credited to it on Monday morning instead.

    For example, if your employer banks with another bank, your salary payment may not be credited to your Bank of Ireland account until early/mid-morning instead of the night before. The same applies over weekends; payments credited to your account on a Friday night will not arrive until Monday morning (or Tuesday morning in the case of a Bank Holiday).

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  • How does SEPA affect the payments I make on 365 online?

    Payments are now divided into SEPA transfers in Euro within the SEPA zone and international (non SEPA) transfers elsewhere.

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  • Where can I see a list of all my direct debits online?

    Select the Statements option on the left-hand side of the main 365 online screen. On the Statements screen, select ‘Recent Transactions’ then the account and month that you want to check.

    Now click on the ‘Advanced’ option on the right-hand side of the screen. The number of options will now expand. On the 'Show' drop-down menu chose 'Direct Debits/Credits' and click on ‘Go’ to display your direct debits (and credits). If you wish to view more information on a SEPA Direct Debit take a look at your list of transactions and click on the small arrow icon beside your direct debit.

    This extended information is available 24 hours after the direct debit has left your account.

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  • What is an international (non SEPA) transfer?

    An International (Non SEPA) Transfer - formerly known as an ‘International Transfer’ - is used for euro transfers to non-SEPA zone countries (example: Euro to China). It is also used for foreign currency payments (example: US Dollars to the USA or Sterling to the UK).

    Any existing International payees for the SEPA zone countries on the table below remain International (Non SEPA) Payees.

    Czech Republic Poland
    Denmark Sweden
    Hungary Switzerland
    Norway United Kingdom

    If you want to transfer in Euro to any of these countries, the payee will also have to be set up as a SEPA payee. You can do this on 365 online by selecting the ‘Add Payee’ button from the 365 home page (located to the right of the Quick Transfer tool).

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  • What are SEPA Transfers?

    A SEPA transfer is a payment to a person or organisation (known as payees) whose bank is in the SEPA zone - that includes Ireland. The 36 member states that make up the SEPA zone are:

    Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City.

    Transfers to these types of payees can only be made in Euro.

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  • New SEPA payees

    Any existing International payees from SEPA zone countries on the table below have recently become SEPA Payees.

    Austria Lithuania
    Belgium Italy
    Bulgaria Liechtenstein
    Croatia Luxembourg
    Cyprus Malta
    Estonia Monaco
    Finland Netherlands
    France Portugal
    Germany Romania
    Greece Slovak Republic
    Iceland Slovenia
    Latvia Spain

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  • Having problems making payments or trying to add a payee on 365 online?

    When you make a domestic payment by credit transfer or direct debit, you will notice that BIC (Bank Identifier Code) and IBAN (International Bank Account Number) have replaced National Sort Code (NSC) and Account Number as the main payment identifiers for all SEPA payments.

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  • SEPA Direct Debit Services on 365 online

    You can find all SEPA Direct Debit services on 365 online. To access these services choose the ‘Online Service Desk’ icon underneath the Quick Transfer Tool on the 365 home page. From the ‘What can we do for you’ drop-down menu, choose ’SEPA Direct Debit Services’.

    You can submit most services online, for others we have provided the forms you need online for you to download, print, sign and return the form to the address specified. These are marked in the table above.

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  • I don't bank online but want to use SEPA direct debit services

    To access these forms see SEPA Direct Debit Services.

    For more information see the SEPA Direct Debit FAQs.

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  • Why did my direct debit payment debit after I requested it to be cancelled?

    In some instances, Direct Debit cancellations requested in the existing national Direct Debit scheme may have not transferred correctly to SEPA if you hadn’t cancelled the Direct Debit with the creditor directly. If a Direct Debit has been recently collected in error, you can cancel the Direct Debit and seek a refund. To do this:

    1. Cancel the SEPA Direct Debit

    Is your direct debit a SEPA Direct Debit or a non-SEPA Direct Debit? If you are unsure whether the direct debit you pay is now a SEPA Direct Debit, please contact the company you are paying, directly, to find out. If you want to cancel a non-SEPA Direct Debit please contact us at 365 phone on 0818 365 365 and we will help you. If you wish to cancel a SEPA Direct Debit you can request this on 365 online. To access SEPA Direct Debit Services choose the ‘Online Service Desk’ icon underneath the Quick Transfer Tool on the 365 home page. From the ‘What can we do for you’ drop-down menu, choose ’SEPA Direct Debit Services’.

    Note: You must also advise the Creditor that you have cancelled your direct debit mandate.

    1. Request a refund of the SEPA Direct Debit

    Refund requests can be made by downloading, printing and signing the refund form available at the following location SEPA Direct Debit Services

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  • What are BIC and IBAN, and where can I find them?

    An IBAN is an International Bank Account Number. It is unique to your account.

    A BIC is a Bank Identifier Code. It is unique to your Bank.

    The combination of your BIC and IBAN enable you to make and receive payments internationally or within Ireland.

    You can locate your BIC and IBAN by:

    1. Logging into 365 Online;
    2. Expanding the Alt text symbol on the homepage.

    You can also find both your BIC and IBAN on an eStatement/Paper Statement or you can also use our IBAN Calculator.

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