SEPA Business to Business Direct Debit Scheme - Adherence Information for Banks
Separate adherence packs must be submitted for adherence to the SDD Core Scheme and for adherence to the SDD B2B Scheme. Here you find the documents necessary to apply for participation in the SEPA Business to Business Direct Debit Scheme.
Adherence Documents
Applicants can download the adherence documents (Adherence Agreement, Schedule to the Adherence Agreement and the appropriate pro-forma Legal Opinion) for adherence to the SEPA Business to Business Direct Debit Scheme here. Applicants should download all application documentation and complete each document for processing as described in the Guide to the Adherence Process for the SEPA Core Direct Debit Scheme and for the SEPA B2B Direct Debit Scheme (the "SDD Adherence Guide"). Please ensure that you do not amend or otherwise alter the text of the pro-forma Adherence Agreement or Legal Opinion, except as required by the provisions of the Adherence Agreement or Legal Opinion itself. Any improper amendments or alterations of the text of the Adherence Agreement or Legal Opinion may result in your application being delayed or rejected. It is strongly recommended that the Schedule information be provided in an excel file (see template below). Alternatively, the Schedule information may be provided in a Word document (see template below). Further guidance should in the first instance be obtained from your National Adherence Support Organisation (NASO). A list of NASOs is set out below.
Legal Opinion
The Legal Opinion must be completed and signed by either internal or external legal counsel for the Applicant. This means that the Legal Opinion must be completed and signed by a qualified lawyer who is qualified to practise under the laws of the jurisdiction that the Legal Opinion covers. It is essential that the Legal Opinion be completed and signed by qualified legal counsel. Signatures of senior members of the Applicant's organisation who are not qualified lawyers will not be accepted. For further information see the SDD Adherence Guide, Annex C: FAQ, questions 25-30.
The Reference BIC provided by Applicants as part of the Schedule Information
The reference BIC is a BIC 8 or BIC 11 selected by and applicable to the Participant (one reference BIC per Applicant).
Organisations adhering to more than one SEPA Scheme are requested to always include the same reference BIC with each application. As such, organisations which are already Participants in the SEPA Credit Transfer Scheme must provide the same reference BIC listed on their behalf in the SCT Participant Register when adhering to one or both of the SEPA Direct Debit Schemes.
Communication with the EPC Secretariat with regard to the SDD Adherence Process
Please direct all queries and, if possible, electronic version of the SDD adherence packs to sdd@europeanpaymentscouncil.eu. In all e-mails submitted to the EPC Secretariat as part of the adherence process, please set the e-mail subject to be
'{Applicant Name} - {Country Code} - {Core OR B2B} adherence'
Applicants should submit an Application Pack to the EPC - or to the appropriate NASO - in two manners:
- The original documents (mandatory). Whenever original Adherence Packs are to be sent either to NASOs or to the EPC this must be done by secure means (e.g. courier or special delivery). Do not send original Adherence Packs by regular mail.
- In addition, if possible, electronically (PDF version of Adherence Agreement, PDF version of Legal Opinion, and the Schedule information in Excel) by e-mail either to the EPC at sdd@europeanpaymentscouncil.eu or to the appropriate NASO. It is strongly recommended to provide the Schedule information in an Excel spreadsheet for which a template is available. Applicants may, however, choose to provide the Schedule information in a word document for which a template is also available.
