SEPA EPC QR Code (GiroCode): Payload Format for Euro Bank Transfers

1. Line-Based Payload

The EPC QR code is plain text with one field per line:

BCD
002
1
SCT
BICCODEXXX
Account Holder Name
DE89370400440532013000
EUR12.50
Invoice 2026-118

Generate these using specialized tools, then create QR codes with our [URL QR code generator](/url-qr-code-generator) or dedicated payment code generators. Test with a [QR scanner](/qr-scanner) in European banking apps.

2. Field Notes

* Service tag BCD, version 001 or 002, character set 1 for UTF-8, identification SCT. * BIC is optional in version 002 within the SEPA area. * The amount is EUR followed by a decimal number. * Use either a structured creditor reference or unstructured remittance text, not both.

3. Tips

Use error correction level M, keep the name and reference short, and check against your own banking app before printing invoices. Size codes with our [QR size calculator](/qr-size-calculator), position using our [QR placement guide](/qr-placement-guide), and verify with our [printed QR tester](/printed-qr-tester). Understand error tolerance with our [error correction simulator](/error-correction-simulator).

Putting this into practice

Start with the smallest real test you can run. Generate the code, print it at the exact size you plan to use, and scan it with two different phones in the lighting where it will live. Check that the destination page loads quickly on a mobile connection and that the call to action next to the code tells people what they will get. If anything feels slow or unclear, fix it before you print a full batch, because reprints cost more than a short test. Keep a note of the size, material, and placement that worked so the next batch starts from a proven setup.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistakes are easy to avoid once you know them. Long payloads make modules tiny, low contrast makes edges hard to read, and text placed too close to the border eats the quiet zone the scanner needs. Covering a corner finder pattern with a logo or a sticker breaks detection entirely, and a code placed behind glare or on a curved surface fails even when the print is perfect. Review each of these points on a proof copy, and treat any failure as a reason to adjust the design rather than a reason to blame the scanner.

Quick checklist

- Keep the payload as short as practical so modules stay large. - Keep dark modules on a light background with strong contrast. - Leave a clear quiet zone on all four sides of the symbol. - Test the printed code at the real viewing distance and lighting. - Confirm the destination page loads fast on a phone. - Recheck the code after any change to the link, design, or placement.

Codes that stay in circulation need occasional attention. Links change, pages move, and printed materials fade, so review each live code on a regular schedule and confirm it still opens the right destination. When a destination changes, update a dynamic code or reprint a static one on the same day, and remove old codes from circulation so nobody scans a dead link. Keep a simple register of where each code appears, what it points to, and when it was last tested, because a code nobody owns is a code nobody fixes.