# AI tells an EU resident to make a SEPA transfer using only the recipient's name and account number, omitting IBAN and BIC

- **ID:** `banking/eu-sepa-transfer-rejection-iban-bic`
- **Domain:** banking
- **Category:** config_error
- **Error Code:** `REJECTED-IBAN-FORMAT-ERR`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 88%

## Root Cause

SEPA Credit Transfer regulations mandate IBAN and BIC for all euro-denominated payments within the SEPA zone; domestic account numbers are not interoperable across national clearing systems.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| SEPA Rulebook 2024 v1.0 | active | — | — |
| ISO 20022 2023 | active | — | — |
| EBA Clearing SEPA CT 2024 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Retrieve the IBAN and BIC from the recipient's bank statement or online banking portal; enter both in the SEPA transfer form exactly as shown (e.g., IBAN: DE89370400440532013000, BIC: COBADEFFXXX).** (95% success)
   ```
   Retrieve the IBAN and BIC from the recipient's bank statement or online banking portal; enter both in the SEPA transfer form exactly as shown (e.g., IBAN: DE89370400440532013000, BIC: COBADEFFXXX).
   ```
2. **Use the recipient's IBAN validator tool (e.g., iban.com) to generate the IBAN if you have the country, bank code, and account number; then manually enter it.** (80% success)
   ```
   Use the recipient's IBAN validator tool (e.g., iban.com) to generate the IBAN if you have the country, bank code, and account number; then manually enter it.
   ```
3. **If the recipient is a business, request their SEPA Creditor Identifier (SCI) and IBAN from their ERP system; use ISO 20022 XML format for batch payments.** (85% success)
   ```
   If the recipient is a business, request their SEPA Creditor Identifier (SCI) and IBAN from their ERP system; use ISO 20022 XML format for batch payments.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — IBAN is not simply a padded account number; it includes country code, check digits, and bank identifier; domestic account numbers are not IBANs. (95% fail)
- **** — SEPA replaced national clearing systems; legacy formats are rejected by the SEPA message validator at the originating bank. (90% fail)
- **** — Banks do not maintain cross-border mapping tables; the SEPA scheme requires explicit IBAN/BIC in the payment instruction. (85% fail)