What is a SEPA QR Code?
A SEPA QR Code – also known as GiroCode, EPC QR Code or BezahlCode – is a standardised QR code for SEPA credit transfers within the European SEPA payment area spanning 36 countries. It follows the EPC069-12 standard of the European Payments Council (EPC) and encodes all relevant payment data in machine-readable form.
When someone scans a SEPA QR Code, their banking app opens directly with a pre-filled transfer form containing the IBAN, recipient name, amount and payment reference. The user simply confirms – no manual typing needed. This saves time and significantly reduces errors.
Difference: SEPA QR Code vs. Regular QR Code
A regular QR code can contain any text, URLs or other data – it has no standardised format. Banking apps cannot interpret such QR codes as payment instructions.
A SEPA QR Code, on the other hand, follows a strict format according to EPC069-12:
- Always starts with the service tag
BCD - Contains structured fields: IBAN, BIC, amount, name, reference
- Recognised by banking apps as a payment instruction and processed automatically
- Maximum data volume defined (not arbitrary size)
Only a correctly structured SEPA QR Code according to the EPC standard is accepted by banking applications as a payment instruction.
Which Banking Apps Support SEPA QR Codes?
Virtually all major banking apps in Germany, Austria and Switzerland support SEPA QR Codes. In Germany these include: Sparkasse, ING, DKB, Volksbank/Raiffeisenbank, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, N26, Postbank, Comdirect and Targobank. Since the standard is valid across Europe, SEPA QR Codes also work with banks in all 36 SEPA countries.
SEPA QR Code Properties
| Property | SEPA QR Code |
|---|---|
| Standard | EPC069-12 |
| Countries | 36 SEPA countries |
| Compatibility | All banking apps |
| Free | Yes |
| IBAN included | Yes |
| Amount optional | Yes |
| Payment reference | Up to 140 characters |
FAQ
What is a SEPA QR Code?
A SEPA QR Code (also GiroCode, EPC QR Code or BezahlCode) is a standardised QR code for SEPA credit transfers following the EPC069-12 standard. It contains all payment data in a structured format and is recognised directly by banking apps as a payment instruction.
How do I create a SEPA QR Code?
Enter the IBAN, add the recipient name, optionally include the amount and payment reference, then generate – done. The QR code can be downloaded immediately, no registration required and completely free.
What data does a SEPA QR Code contain?
IBAN (required), recipient name (required), BIC (optional), amount (optional), payment reference (optional, up to 140 characters). All data is formatted and encoded according to EPC069-12.
Are SEPA QR Codes free?
Yes, completely free. The EPC standard is open and royalty-free. Our generator creates SEPA QR Codes without registration, at no hidden cost, and processes all data locally in the browser – no data is transmitted to servers.