10 July 2026 - 4 min Reading time
The European payments sector is moving towards more standardised processing of address data. The discontinuation of unstructured address formats is still planned, but on 9 September 2026, the European Payments Council (EPC) decided to postpone the previously announced migration date of 15 November 2026. A new deadline will be announced at a later stage. The European payments sector is moving towards a more standardised and higher-quality processing of address data. The switch to structured and hybrid address formats improves the processability and automated handling of payments, and reduces errors and inconsistencies in address data. In this context, only structured and hybrid address formats will be permitted for (instant) credit transfers and direct debits.
We recommend making sure that every address included in your files — both that of the originator and that of the beneficiary — complies with the updated rules below.
Some banks may still tolerate certain non-compliant address formats, depending on the payment type and the address concerned. Nevertheless, we recommend always applying the strictest interpretation of the rules, in order to limit the risk of rejections and delays.
The structured address is the most future-proof option and is therefore strongly recommended.
The hybrid address is generally the easiest format to migrate to. However, it is currently considered a transitional solution and may be phased out in the future. Where technically feasible, we therefore recommend implementing the structured address format straight away, as this is the most future-proof option and avoids additional technical adjustments later on.
The updated standards are available here.
Further information on structured and hybrid address formats is available here.
This change has an impact on businesses, merchants (ERP providers) and financial institutions:
Sector analyses show that the level of preparedness currently still varies across organisations. Although the 15 November 2026 deadline has been postponed, the transition to structured and hybrid address formats is still planned. It is therefore important to continue preparations and make the necessary adjustments. A new deadline will be communicated once it has been set.