European Payments Council / EU Instant Payments Regulation

SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst)

SEPA / EEAv2025 Rulebook + IPRcurrentPublisher docs ↗

Euro instant credit transfers: funds available in ≤10 seconds, 24/7/365. Clearing via RT1, TIPS or equivalent CSM; ISO 20022 pacs with Local Instrument INST. The Instant Payments Regulation mandates reachability, pricing parity and Verification of Payee.

Security profile

Client authentication: Participant credentials on the CSM; TPP side remains PSD2 eIDAS when initiated via XS2A.
Message signing: CSM-specific; TIPS/RT1 network authentication.
Tokens: N/A at scheme layer; PISP uses Berlin Group / national XS2A.
Certificates: Scheme participation + eIDAS for TPP initiation.

SCA approaches

ASPSP SCA on initiationExemption where RTS allows

What bites integrators

The 10-second clock starts at time of receipt / authorisation (rulebook AT-T056 timestamp) — not at CSM hop.
Missing pacs.002 is not a failure; hold the reservation and investigate with pacs.028 before telling the PSU.
AB05 / CNOR mean the creditor PSP is not reachable for SCT Inst — fall back to SCT only with explicit PSU consent.
IPR requires Verification of Payee before instant credit transfers; close-match UX is mandatory.
Originator PSP must notify the payer of the processing outcome (positive or reject) — do not leave the PISP UI on PDNG forever.
Scheme max amount and maintenance windows still apply; planned downtime must be communicated in advance.

APIs and endpoints

SCT Inst scheme / CSM

Scheme

Inter-PSP instant credit transfer and investigation messages.

POST/sct-inst/pacs.008Submit instant credit transfer (LclInstrm=INST)
POST/sct-inst/pacs.002Positive or negative confirmation within the SLA
POST/sct-inst/pacs.028Status request after timeout / investigation
POST/sct-inst/pacs.004Return after recall acceptance
POST/sct-inst/camt.056Recall / cancellation request
POST/vop/acmt.023Verification of Payee (IPR)