Q & A - Corporate customers

• Account-to account-transfers, Corporate customers via the bank's online service

• Why do I need to state and update the name of the recipient in an account-to-account transfer?
  For regulatory reasons, the banks are obliged to include the name in a transfer. Thus, the name of the recipient becomes mandatory to include in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure.
• Will any functionality for A2A transfers for corporate customers disappear in the planned Nordic infrastructure?
  No.
• Why does it take different amounts of time to pay to different banks during the potential transformation?
  Differences may arise since the plan is that different banks will onboard the planned Nordic payment infrastructure at different times.

• Account-to-account-transfers, corporates with file communication via Bankgirot or bank

• Will I be able to make transfers as before?
  Yes. What is new is that the recipient’s name will be required and that longer messages will be possible. Payments will also arrive faster (bank-specific).
• How long messages will I be able to send with my transfers?
  What each bank will offer is answered by the respective bank. Each bank is responsible for the terms towards its customers. However, the new planned infrastructure allows a message up to 140 characters long (unstructured reference).
• What file formats will be used in the future?
  The market is moving towards ISO20022 however it depends on the banks’ offer. The format standards used in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure are the various payment and reports formats within the ISO 20022 standard. This standard is planned to replace the existing formats. The new formats can generally be used for all payments, i.e., regardless of whether they are salary payments or Bankgiro payments. They can often also be used for both domestic and cross-border payments.
• What cut-off times will apply in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure and what will the payments cost?
  How this will happen is answered by each bank. Each bank is responsible for the terms towards its customers.
• How many invoices can be sent in the same payment in the planned Nordic Payment infrastructure?
  If the possibility to use Extended Remittance Information (ERI) is offered by the bank, it is possible to send up to 999 invoices in the same payment (including credit invoices) if the recipient bank accepts it (ERI).

• Alias payment (Bankgiro/Postgiro) via bank’s Online service, no file communication, corporates

• Will I be able to make Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments as before?
  Yes, it will work as long as Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments continue to be offered.
• What cut-off times will apply in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure and what will the payments cost?
  How this will happen is answered by each bank. Each bank is responsible for the terms towards its customers.
• When will Bankgiro payments be transferred to the planned payment infrastructure?
  It is planned to take place gradually from spring 2024 to fall 2024.
• How long messages will I be able to send with my payments?
  What each bank will offer is answered by the respective bank. Each bank is responsible for the terms towards its customers. However, the new planned infrastructure allows a message up to 140 characters long (unstructured reference).
• Will I be able to continue using Bankgiro numbers in my invoices?
  Yes, it will work as long as Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments continue to be offered.
• Will I be able to continue using OCR numbers in my invoices?
  Yes, it will work. As long as Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments continue to be offered, the OCR references will also be used. It is important, however, that the OCR number in the invoice is correct. This because OCR references are checked by the payer's bank before they are sent. If the OCR reference is incorrect, the payment will be rejected (will not be forwarded).
• What will happen to the payments during the period when, according to the current plan, they can come via both Bankgirot and the planned Nordic payment infrastructure?
  Regardless of which way the payments arrive, they will be reported in the way that the bank offers, it can for example be in the Internet bank or via file-communication. More information is received by the bank, which is responsible for the terms towards its customers.
• Will I receive two different types of reports during the potential transformation?
  How this will happen is answered by each bank. Each bank is responsible for the terms towards its customers.
• What are the differences and similarities between the existing and planned new products?
  The main difference is that the banks develop their own product offerings for payments and reporting. There will be a common bank standard and a regulatory framework (NPC Credit Transfer Scheme Rulebook), which these product offerings are based on. Customers who today have file communication directly with Bankgirot need to change this to instead have it directly with their bank
• How will the bank control payments before sent or received?
  In general, it can be said that the controls carried out today will also be carried out for payments via the planned Nordic payment infrastructure. One such is the control of the OCR reference for payments to Bankgiro/Plusgiro numbers that require such an OCR-reference.
• Where does product arrangement take place?
  Product arrangement takes place in the bank’s system and not in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure, which differs from many of today’s Swedish products listed in the BG agreement. How BG numbers will be set up after the potential transformation has not yet been decided.
• What benefits and news are there in the planned Nordic infrastructure?
  The planned Nordic infrastructure makes it possible to send more information between the banks. In addition, the planned Nordic payment infrastructure provides the opportunity to pay later in the day. Also, payments reach the recipient faster compared to today.
• Where is payment history stored?
  Payment history will be stored at the customer’s bank. This will make customer support/self-service easier.
• How often will clearing and settlement take place in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure?
  The planned Nordic payment infrastructure offers clearing and settlement once an hour during the currency’s opening hours for account-to-account transfers, salaries, and giro payments. Please note that the services are bank specific and that the customer benefit depends on the sending and receiving banks’ systems and integration with P27.
• How will the cut-off times look like for SEK?
  For normal payments via the planned Nordic infrastructure, product independent settlement is offered continuously during the day. Cut-off times are bank-specific, however, compared to how it works today, cut-off times are improved, and payment orders can be sent in later and reach the recipient the same day. All payment products can be sent in and executed on the same day until the Riksbank closes for settlement of SEK.
• Will OCR numbers still be possible to use?
  Yes, as long as Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments continue to be offered, the OCR references will also be used.

• Alias file customers via Bankgirot or bank via file communication

• Will I be able to make Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments as before?
  Yes, it will work as long as Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments continue to be offered.
• What file formats will be used in the future?
  The format standard that will generally be used in the planned new Nordic payment infrastructure is the various payment and accounting formats within the ISO 20022 standard. This standard is planned to gradually replace the existing formats. Exactly what the banks will offer, ISO formats and other formats, are answered by each bank that is responsible for the terms towards its customers.
• What cut-off times will apply in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure and what will the payments cost?
  How this will happen is answered by each bank. Each bank is responsible for the terms towards its customers.
• When will Bankgiro payments be transferred to the planned Nordic payment infrastructure?
  It is planned to take place gradually from spring 2024 to fall 2024.
• How long messages will I be able to send with my transfers?
  What each bank will offer is answered by the respective bank. Each bank is responsible for the terms towards its customers. However, the new planned infrastructure allows a message up to 140 characters long (unstructured reference).
• Will I be able to continue using Bankgiro numbers in my invoices?
  Yes, it will work. Your customers will be able to make payments to your Bankgiro number.
• Will I be able to continue using OCR references in my invoices?
  Yes, it will work. As long as Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments continue to be offered, the OCR references will also be used. It is important, however, that the OCR number in the invoice is correct. This because OCR references are checked by the payer's bank before they are sent. If the OCR reference is incorrect, the payment will be rejected (will not be forwarded).
• What will happen to the payments during the period when, according to the current plan, they can come via both Bankgirot and the planned Nordic payment infrastructure?
  Regardless of which way the payments arrive, they will be reported in the way that the bank offers, it can for example be in the Internet bank or via file-communication. More information is received by the bank, which is responsible for the terms towards its customers.
• Will I receive two different types of reports during the potential transformation?
  How this will happen is answered by each bank. Each bank is responsible for the terms towards its customers.
• What are the differences and similarities between the existing and planned new products?
  The main difference is that the banks develop their own product offerings for payments and reporting. There will be a common bank standard and a regulatory framework (NPC Credit Transfer Scheme Rulebook), which these product offerings are based on. Customers who today have file communication directly with Bankgirot need to change this to instead have it directly with their bank.
• How will the bank control payments before sent or received?
  In general, it can be said that the controls carried out today will also be carried out for payments via the planned Nordic payment infrastructure. One such is the control of the OCR reference for payments to Bankgiro/Plusgiro numbers that require such a reference.
• What benefits and news are there in the planned Nordic infrastructure?
  The planned Nordic infrastructure makes it possible to send more information between the banks, up to 140 characters. What each bank will offer is answered by the respective bank, who is responsible for the terms towards its customers. A novelty with the planned Nordic payment infrastructure is that account to account transfers in SEK can contain a structured reference. It can be compared to today's infrastructure which only offers this for BG and PG payments through OCR reference.
• How many invoices can be sent in the same payment in the planned Nordic Payment infrastructure?
  It is possible to send up to 999 invoices in the same payment (including credit invoices) if the recipient bank accepts it (ERI).
• Where is payment history stored?
  Payment history will be stored at the customer’s bank.
• How often will clearing and settlement take place in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure?
  payment infrastructure offers clearing and settlement once an hour during the currency’s opening hours for account-to-account transfers, salaries, and giro payments. Please note that the services are bank specific, and that the customer benefit depends on the sending and receiving banks’ systems and integration with P27.
• How will the cut-off times look like for SEK?
  For normal payments via the planned Nordic infrastructure, product independent settlement is offered continuously during the day. Compared to how it works today, cut-off times are improved, and payment orders can be sent in later and reach the recipient the same day. Cut-off times are bank-specific, however, all payment products can be sent in and executed on the same day until the Riksbank closes for settlement of SEK.
• Will OCR numbers still be possible to use?
  Yes, it will work. As long as Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments continue to be offered, the OCR references will also be used. It is important, however, that the OCR number in the invoice is correct. This because OCR references are checked by the payer's bank before they are sent. If the OCR reference is incorrect, the payment will be rejected (will not be forwarded).

• Payment image file

• What is a payment slip image?
  A payment slip image is a scanned image of a payment slip with a message field and it is generated if the payment slip has been used via a so-called envelope service. The payment slip image is then presented to the payee. Payment slips with pre-printed OCR references, so-called OCR slip, are never converted into payment slip images.
• Why are payment slip images not planned to be offered in the planned new payments infrastructure?
  In the planned Nordic payment infrastructure with the new format ISO20022, payments are converted via envelope services with valid characters to follow the same accounting structure as other payments. An improvement compared to the existing services is that the payer's name and address are included in the payment information. Only a small number of payments today generates payment slip images, which means that this change potentially only affects about one per thousand of all payments.
• I regularly look at images of payment slips via my Internet bank, what should I do when these are not available in the new planned payments infrastructur
  Payment slip images will not be needed in the new planned payments infrastructure as the information from the payment slip will be reported in the same way as other payments. The payment information will also contain the payer's name and address for payments made via an envelope service.
• I receive a payment image file with payment slip images today, how do I get this information in the future?
  Payment slip images will not be needed as the information from the payment slip will be reported in the same way as other payments. The payment information will also contain the payer's name and address for payments made via an envelope service.
• Can I never get payment slip images in the planned Nordic payment infrastructure?
  In exceptional cases, such as certain complaint cases when a payment is made via a so-called envelope service, a payment slip image can be created if the payer has used a payment slip with a message field.
• How can I see those who have paid, and why it is paid, if I can no longer look at a payment slip image?
  The information (message) provided by the payer with valid characters is converted electronically to follow the same accounting structure as other payments, including the payer's name and address.
• Will my customers be able to continue paying with payment slips?
  Yes, your customers who have a so-called Envelope service will be able to continue using payment slips as today. It is above all important that you who create/send payment slips to your customers ensure the quality of them as these payment slips are read by machines. Contact your bank for help with the quality assurance of payment slips.
• Will I receive messages that my customer has entered on a payment slip?
  Yes, if the payer used a payment slip intended to leave a message. The prerequisites are that the payer has written clearly, used the approved characters as well as the number of characters that are allowed according to the bank's conditions for the envelope service. A maximum of 70 characters is passed on to the payee.
• I pay via an envelope service, how am I affected by the planned Nordic infrastructure?
  You can continue to pay via the envelope service as long as your bank offers such a service. If you want to leave a message to the payee, you must use a payment slip that is intended to leave a message. It is important that you text clearly and use approved characters and do not exceed the number of characters specified by your bank's terms for the envelope service.
• I am a payee who receives payments via envelope services, how am I affected by the planned Nordic infrastructure?
  Apart from the fact that you will not receive payment slip images in your report, all payments will be reported in the same way, i.e., information from the payer and information about the payer's name and address.
• If I receive payment image files today, what should I do?
  If you receive payment image files today, you may need to change your processes of payments for payment image files to be able to use the new planned payments infrastructure. These can be received as unstructured references. This means that some information will not reach the payee (e.g., a picture) depending on the payee's possibilities. Unlike today, the information about who paid and the person’s address will be included in the report. How this information is presented/reported is answered by each bank.

• OCR

• Will I be able to continue using OCR references in my invoices?
  Yes, it will work. As long as Bankgiro and Plusgiro payments continue to be offered, the OCR references will also be used. It is important, however, that the OCR number in the invoice is correct. This because OCR references are checked by the payer's bank before they are sent. If the OCR reference is incorrect, the payment will be rejected (will not be forwarded).
• For how long can I use my Plusgiro number and Bankgiro number?
  It will remain until further notice.
• Will hard and soft control remain?
  Hard and soft control is something that is determined by the payee and will remain as long as banks offer this to payees.
• Will the length control remain for the giro numbers?
  Yes, as long as banks offer this.
• Will there be OCR control also for file payments?
  Yes, in general, OCR checks will be performed on file payments. The new ISO standard uses so-called XML files and in these only reference fields marked with SCOR will be validated. Existing file services work as they do today.
• Will OCR be validated via the LB routine during the transition period?
  No, it will work as it does today.
• Will there also be transactions via the planned Nordic payment infrastructure in the file for Bankgiro payments?
  No, transactions via the planned Nordic payment infrastructure are reported directly from the bank.
• Will there be hard control in the Internet banks (the banks’ digital service) as today?
  As long as alias is used, it will be as it is today.
• It is possible to open a new Bankgiro number or Plusgiro number/Alias with the existing regulations during the transformation period?
  Yes.
• Is it possible to use OCR-payment slips for the envelope services in the new planned payments infrastructure?
  Yes.

• Salaries, pensions, and allowances

• Preparation for the transformation?
  Companies and system vendors need to prepare to be able to continue making their payments via the new planned payments infrastructure. Possibly also create new internal processes to be able to make payments. The banks also need to inform about what they will offer for products/services and when they switch to the new format The Swedish rule that says when the payment should be booked remains.
• How do I know which services, formats, and so-called cut-off times that are planned?
  It is important that you, as a customer, have a dialogue with your bank to understand what exactly your bank plans to introduce for services, format requirements, and so-called cut-off times, so that you as a customer get to know how you need to adapt your systems and internal processes.
• Will the bank offer payment reports on paper?
  What banks will offer is answered by each bank.
• Will employees still receive their salary/pension/allowance deposited in the account at 00.01 on the payday?
  Yes.
• What does my company need to do regarding the planned changes for salary, pension, and allowance?
  The company needs to talk to its bank to find out more about the changes as some parts are bank specific. The company further needs to talk to its system vendor and any payroll agency to ensure that they can handle the new format in time. The recipient’s name must be included in the file.
• How long in advance does my company need to contact its system vendor and bank regarding a potential switch to the new planned payments infrastructur
  They should be contacted as soon as possible after you have read this information. Keep in mind that changes to your internal processes can also take time. Likewise, the possible transition to a new format.
• Are there any other products than salary, pension, and allowance that will change in the new planned payments infrastructure compared to the existing services?
  Yes. To find out what will change you need to talk to your bank.
• When do I have to send the salary file to the bank at the latest?
  Extended cut-off time can be possible in the planned Nordic infrastructure. You need to talk to your bank to find out what applies to your particular bank.

Senast uppdaterad: 2022-08-15