SEPA Core Direct Debit Scheme - Adherence Information for non-Credit Institutions

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 Core Direct Debit Scheme here. Applicants should download all application documentation and complete each document for processing as described in the Application Pack for Adherence to the SEPA Credit Transfer Scheme and the SEPA Direct Debit Schemes for Applicants that are neither licensed credit institutions in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 2006/48/EC (or licensed Swiss banks) nor entities listed under Article 2 of Directive 2006/48/EC (hereafter non credit institutions).

The Application Pack for non credit institutions (EPC103-08) is available below.  The Application Pack for non credit institutions requests Applicants to carefully study the criteria for eligibility to participate in the SEPA Schemes and to provide evidence to show how each of these criteria are fulfilled in their specific case.  Additional information regarding adherence to the SDD Schemes is set out in the Guide to the Adherence Process for the SEPA Core Direct Debit Scheme and for the SEPA B2B Direct Debit Scheme (EPC329-08) (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).

The 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 on the meaning of a qualified lawyer in the context of the adherence process please refer to the section 'Frequently Asked Questions' in the Guide to the Adherence Process for the SEPA Core Direct Debit Scheme and the SEPA B2B Direct Debit Scheme (Annex C: FAQs, 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

Application packs of non credit institutions should be submitted directly to the EPC Secretariat. Please direct all queries and, if possible, electronic version of the SDD adherence packs to sdd@epc-cep.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} - SDD - {Core OR B2B} adherence'

List of National Adherence Support Organisations (NASOs)

A list of National Adherence Support Organisations (NASOs) is set out below.  NASOs support credit institution Applicants in their adherence process.  Each NASO shall decide for itself whether it also wishes to similarly assist the non credit institution Applicants in their adherence process.

NASOs that do not appear in this list expressly informed the EPC that they do not address adherence applications or related queries submitted by non credit institutions. Non credit institutions located in a community where the NASO does not address adherence applications of non credit institutions should send any queries directly to the EPC (see 'Communication with the EPC Secretariat' above).