Both are versions of the same ISO 20022 message, CustomerCreditTransferInitiation. .03 is the 2009 version that most European banks have accepted for over a decade. .09 is the 2019 version that the European Payments Council (EPC) uses in its newer implementation guidelines. Banks are moving to .09 at different speeds, so the right answer is always: use what your bank's file-upload documentation says.
The differences you will actually notice
| Element | pain.001.001.03 | pain.001.001.09 |
|---|---|---|
| Namespace | urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.03 | urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.09 |
| Bank identifier tag | <BIC> | <BICFI> |
| Requested execution date | <ReqdExctnDt>2026-10-05</ReqdExctnDt> | <ReqdExctnDt><Dt>2026-10-05</Dt></ReqdExctnDt> (or DtTm) |
| Postal address | Mostly AdrLine free-text lines plus country | Richer structured fields: street, building number, post code, town, country and more |
| UETR | Not available | Optional unique end-to-end transaction reference (a UUID) in PmtId |
| LEI | Not available for agents | Optional Legal Entity Identifier for financial institutions |
For a typical batch of euro payments with name, IBAN, amount and reference, the content is the same; only the tags above change. That is why a good generator can produce either version from the same spreadsheet.
Why the address matters now
The EPC is phasing out unstructured (free-text only) addresses in favour of structured or "hybrid" addresses. The planned November 2026 end date was postponed in September 2026 – see what the address change means for your payment files. Version .09 is the version that carries structured addresses fully.
How to tell which version a file is
Open the XML in a text editor and look at the xmlns attribute on the first <Document> element – it ends in .03 or .09. A bank that expects one version will usually reject the other with a schema error.
Practical advice
- If your bank accepts both, .03 is the most widely tested; .09 is the future-proof choice.
- If you switch, test one small file first and compare the bank preview.
- Keep the same end-to-end IDs (e.g. invoice numbers) so reconciliation still works.
Sources
Related guides
- How to create a SEPA XML payment file from Excel
- SEPA structured addresses: the November 2026 deadline was postponed
Published 2026-10-02 by Karuna Labs. Our tools check file structure and checksums; always review outputs (and payment files in your bank's preview) before relying on them. This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice.