Which countries are part of the SEPA area?

The SEPA area (Single Euro Payments Area) is a region in which individuals, businesses, and organisations can make and receive euro payments under the same conditions, rights, and obligations, regardless of their location within the area.

It covers the EU member states plus a few additional countries (such as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, and the UK). The aim is to make cross-border euro payments as simple and efficient as domestic payments within one country.

The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) makes paying in euros across Europe as simple as making a domestic payment. Within SEPA, individuals and businesses can send and receive euro transfers using the same rules, standards, and formats, which eliminates the need for separate bank accounts in different countries. Payments are faster and more reliable thanks to harmonised systems, with SEPA Instant even enabling near real-time transfers. Costs are also reduced, since cross-border euro payments are charged at the same rate as local ones, often free or at very low fees. For consumers and companies alike, SEPA brings convenience, efficiency, and security—supporting everything from everyday transfers to recurring payments across borders.