2015-03-31
Changes in technical interfaces between enterprises and banks entailing from SEPA requirements were discussed with accounting programme developers
To migrate to SEPA payments, a significant part of Lithuanian enterprises will have to adapt their accounting programmes to new formats for data exchange with on-line banking systems. In order to discuss relevant issues and help to successfully prepare for SEPA requirements, the SEPA Coordination Committee today met with accounting programme developers at a SEPA forum in Vilnius.
As of 2016 Lithuanian enterprises, except for very small ones, in sending or receiving credit transfers not on an individual basis, but grouped, in other words, using data import (export) between their accounting programme and the on-line banking system, will have to use ISO 20022 XML messages. In addition, enterprises planning to use a new e-account provision service, will have to introduce a new technical standard for e-account.
“Uniform standards used for credit transfers and uniform standards for the e-account provision service will provide the market with transparency and increase competition among payment service providers; however, changes of this scope are to be implemented with particular responsibility. In carrying out preparatory works, a special role will have to be played by accounting programme developers and maintenance staff,” said Marius Jurgilas, member of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, Chairman of the SEPA Coordination Committee.
During the meeting, representatives of banks introduced accounting programme developers and maintenance staff to the changes pending: the changed scope of and rules for information to be sent and received via SEPA credit transfers, the ISO 20022 XML message standard. The scheme and technical standard of e-account was presented in detail as well.
The forum participants were advised that banks would test new technical interfaces between enterprises’ accounting programmes and banks’ on-line banking systems gradually, starting in the middle of this year.
“We urge enterprises and institutions not to postpone the testing and introduction of changes in their accounting programmes for the end of the year, as this may worsen their possibilities to prepare for the use of SEPA payment services,” noted M. Jurgilas.
This is already a third SEPA forum this year. At the SEPA forum which took place in January, the changes pending in payment services were introduced to Lithuanian enterprises, in February — to the public sector.