Glossary
EPC QR code
An EPC QR code, branded GiroCode in German-speaking markets, encodes a SEPA credit transfer as a twelve-line text block. European banking apps read it and prefill a bank transfer for the payer to authorise.
The shape
Twelve lines in fixed order per EPC069-12: service tag BCD, version, character set,
SCT, BIC, beneficiary name, IBAN, amount, purpose code, structured remittance,
unstructured remittance, originator information.
Lines 10 and 11 are mutually exclusive. The whole payload must stay under 331 bytes.
Where it works
Strong in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Patchy elsewhere in the eurozone, so always print the IBAN as text alongside.
Switzerland's QR-bill is a separate, incompatible standard with a Swiss cross in the centre — do not substitute one for the other.
Best use
Invoices. Prefilling the IBAN, amount and ISO 11649 creditor reference removes transposed digits and speeds reconciliation, which is where the value actually is.
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