<!-- Source: https://blnkfinance.com/glossary/sepa -->

[Glossary](https://blnkfinance.com/glossary) SEPA

# What is SEPA?

SEPA

SEPA is the Single Euro Payments Area: a set of schemes for euro transfers across participating countries. SCT is a credit. SDD is a debit. SCT Inst is the instant credit. Identifiers are IBANs. The scheme is the rail. Your ledger is still the book for wallets and fees.

## How does SEPA work?

You originate a credit or a debit under a scheme rulebook. Banks exchange ISO 20022 messages. SCT takes a banking day. SCT Inst posts in seconds when both banks support it. SDD pulls under a mandate and can be refunded for a long window on consumer accounts.

## SEPA vs ACH

Same shape: batch credits and debits, plus an instant cousin. Different identifiers, different return rules, different currencies. Do not reuse an ACH return handler for SDD. The codes and the timelines differ.

## What do you post?

A credit payout is wallet to euro clearing. A debit collection is clearing to wallet, held until you accept refund risk. Instant credits can commit when the scheme says accepted.

## How it works with Blnk

Use a euro rail pot, such as `@PayoutEUR_SEPA` or `@WorldEUR_SEPA`. Hold SCT and SDD inflight. SCT Inst can commit on acceptance. Keep the IBAN and the scheme in metadata.

<!-- sepa-credit.ts -->
```
await blnk.Transactions.create({
  precise_amount: 25000,
  precision: 100,
  reference: 'sepa_out_20260816_001',
  currency: 'EUR',
  source: 'customer_wallet_id',
  destination: '@PayoutEUR_SEPA',
  description: 'SEPA credit transfer',
  inflight: true,
  meta_data: {
    rail: 'sepa',
    scheme: 'sct',
    iban: 'DE89370400440532013000',
    customer_id: 'cus_8f21a4',
  },
});
```

Related terms

-   [IBAN](https://blnkfinance.com/glossary/iban)
-   [Payment rail](https://blnkfinance.com/glossary/payment-rail)
-   [ISO 20022](https://blnkfinance.com/glossary/iso-20022)
-   [Settlement](https://blnkfinance.com/glossary/settlement)
-   [Faster Payments](https://blnkfinance.com/glossary/faster-payments)