Message overview
The core messages defined for use by the EPC comprise a subset of the ISO 20022 Payments Clearing and Settlement (pacs.nnn.nnn.nn), Cash Management (camt.nnn.nnn.nn), and Payments Initiation (pain.nnn.nnn.nn) business areas.
The pacs and camt messages are for use in the PSP-to-PSP processing space, and have been designated mandatory by the EPC and they must be used by all SEPA participants. The pain messages are recommended for use in the customer-to-PSP space.
It should be noted that, within SEPA, there are numerous terms that can be used interchangeably.
In addition to the terms UNIFI and ISO 20022 XML which are nearly synonymous, a SEPA message can be
referred to either by its UNIFI message number, or by a dataset identified in the EPC rulebook. For
example, the following terms mean the same:
- FI to FI Customer Credit Transfer
- pacs.008.001.08
- Inter-PSP Payment Dataset – DS-02