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As of 15 November 2026, updated rules on the use of addresses in payment files will enter into force for credit transfers and direct debits. As part of ongoing anti-money laundering requirements, addresses included in these files must be provided in either a hybrid or structured format. Unstructured addresses will no longer be allowed.

Do you create or upload transaction files from an ERP ? Please verify with your software vendor if the new address format is being used.


Information for software developers:

❌Unstructured✅Structured✅Hybrid
valid today
no longer valid as of 15/11		valid today
valid after 15/11		valid today
valid after 15/11
<PstlAdr>
    <Ctry>BE</Ctry>
    <AdrLine>Hoogstraat 156</AdrLine>
    <AdrLine>2000 Antwerp</AdrLine>
</PstlAdr>
<PstlAdr>
  <StrtNm>Hoogstraat</StrtNm>
  <BldgNb>156</BldgNb>
  <PstCd>2000</PstCd>
  <TwnNm>Antwerp</TwnNm>
  <Ctry>BE</Ctry>
</PstlAdr>
<PstlAdr>
   <PstCd>2000</PstCd>
   <TwnNm>Antwerp</TwnNm>
   <Ctry>BE</Ctry>
   <AdrLine>Hoogstraat 156</AdrLine>
</PstlAdr>
 TwnNm and Ctry are mandatory


Payments that do not comply with these rules may be rejected during processing or execution.

These rules apply to:

  • Credit transfers in the formats pain.001.001.03 and pain.001.001.09

  • SEPA direct debits in the formats pain.008.001.02 and pain.008.001.08

The updated specifications are available on the Febelfin website:
https://febelfin.be/en/publications/2023/febelfin-banking-standards-for-online-banking

According to our statistics, a significant amount of files are not yet compliant with these new requirements. We therefore strongly encourage you to plan and implement the necessary changes as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition. Rejected payments may lead to unnecessary costs, operational issues, and user frustration.
 

Technical guidelines

We strongly recommend ensuring that any address included in your files — whether for the debtor, creditor, or bank — complies with these updated rules.
Some banks may tolerate certain non-compliant address formats, depending on the payment type and the address concerned. However, we strongly recommend complying with the strictest interpretation of the rules in order to minimise the risk of rejection.

 

Structured address

 

Hybrid address


 

Keywords: upload address structured hybrid unstructured erp isabel go isabel connect