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Sepa

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is a system created by the European Union to make sending and receiving euro (€) payments easier across Europe. The countries included in SEPA are: -

All 27 EU countries (plus associated territories)
3 European Economic Area (EEA) countries: Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein
11 non-EEA countries including: -
- Albania
- Andorra
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- San Marino
- Serbia (from May 2026)
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City State

SEPA replaces local euro payment systems with one standard set of rules. This means faster and easier euro transfers, same conditions for payments across borders as within your own country & secure and efficient transactions for both individuals and businesses.

Smartcard / smartcard reader

Smartcards and smartcard readers are used to confirm the identity of users. Some actions cannot be completed without smartcard authorisation. For example, logging in to the service and making payments to new beneficiaries.

A smartcard looks like a credit card, and the reader is similar to a small calculator.

Sort code

The UK's national clearing code - used to identify a specific bank, branch or financial institution. Sort codes have six digits in the format 12-34-56. The sort codes for accounts held at Coutts & Co are:-

Sterling accounts 18-00-02

Currency accounts 18-00-91

Status

The current payment status, with the date and time when the payment achieved this status.