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SEPA creditor identifier: format, check digits and how to get one

Last updated: 28 October 2026

Every creditor who collects SEPA direct debits needs a creditor identifier (CI). It identifies the creditor independently of any bank account and, together with the mandate reference, identifies every mandate. Here you see how a creditor identifier is structured and where to get one, and you can test one for typos right away.

Structure of the creditor identifier

The structure is the same throughout SEPA. Only the national part differs from country to country. The German test identifier of the Deutsche Bundesbank shows the four parts:

  • DEcountry code
  • 98check digits
  • ZZZcreditor business code
  • 09999999999national identifier
  • Characters 1 and 2: the ISO country code of the country that issued the identifier.
  • Characters 3 and 4: check digits according to ISO 7064 MOD 97-10, the method also used for the IBAN.
  • Characters 5 to 7: the creditor business code. ZZZ if it is not used; otherwise any three characters the creditor chooses.
  • From character 8: the national identifier as defined in each country, for example a sequence number, a trade register number or a tax number. The whole identifier is at most 35 characters long.

How the check digits are calculated

The creditor business code is left out of the calculation. For DE98ZZZ09999999999:

  1. Take the national identifier from character 8: 09999999999.
  2. Append the country code and 00: 09999999999DE00.
  3. Replace letters with numbers, A = 10 to Z = 35, so D = 13 and E = 14: 09999999999131400.
  4. Divide this number by 97. The remainder here is 0.
  5. The check digits are 98 minus the remainder, here 98 − 0 = 98, which gives DE98ZZZ09999999999.

To check an existing creditor identifier, write the national identifier, the country code and the check digits one after the other, convert the letters and divide by 97. For a valid identifier the remainder is 1. That is exactly what the check at the top of this page does.

How to get a creditor identifier

You get the creditor identifier in the country where you are registered. Who issues it differs: in some countries a central bank, in others your bank. If you do not have one yet, your bank must provide one or arrange for it when you agree on collecting direct debits.

Creditor identifiers in selected countries
CountryStructureLengthIssued by
GermanyDEkkZZZnnnnnnnnnnn18 charactersDeutsche Bundesbank, online application, free of charge
AustriaATkkZZZ0nnnnnnnnnn18 charactersOesterreichische Nationalbank; requires an account with a bank in Austria
FranceFRkkZZZxxxxxx13 charactersBanque de France, requested by your bank
NetherlandsNLkkZZZnnnnnnnnnnnn19 charactersyour bank, from the trade register number (KvK) plus four digits
BelgiumBEkkZZZnnnnnnnnnn17 characters with an enterprise numberyour bank

k = check digit, n = digit, x = letter or digit. Source: Creditor Identifier Overview of the European Payments Council, which lists every SEPA country.

Once issued, you use one creditor identifier on all mandates and in all collections, through any bank and for payers in any SEPA country. The identifier alone does not allow you to collect: you also need an agreement with your bank.

Where the creditor identifier appears

  • On every mandate, together with the creditor's name and address. Our free SEPA mandate template has a field for it.
  • In every collection, in the direct debit file in the field CdtrSchmeId. Together with the mandate reference it identifies the mandate.
  • At the payer's bank. The identifier travels with the collection to the payer. Payers can use it to have direct debits from a creditor blocked; the bank then returns them with reason code SL01.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a creditor identifier for testing?

Yes. The Deutsche Bundesbank publishes DE98ZZZ09999999999 as a test creditor identifier with correctly calculated check digits. Use it only for tests, never in real collections.

Is the creditor identifier the same as a VAT number or an IBAN?

No. In some countries the national part is built from an existing number, such as the enterprise number in Belgium or the trade register number in the Netherlands, but the creditor identifier is a separate identifier with its own check digits. It does not depend on any bank account.

Does my creditor identifier change if I change banks?

No. You use the same creditor identifier with every bank, also if you move your account to a bank in another SEPA country. If you obtained a new one, all your existing mandates would have to be amended.

Can I find out whether a creditor identifier has actually been issued?

Not publicly. Germany, for example, publishes no directory and gives third parties, including banks, no information on individual identifiers; in France only authorised banks can consult the central register. The check on this page only shows whether structure and check digits are correct.

What does ZZZ mean?

Characters 5 to 7 are the creditor business code. ZZZ is the default. The creditor may replace it with any three characters, for example for a business line or location. The code is not part of the check digit calculation and does not change the identifier.

How long is a creditor identifier?

At most 35 characters. The length depends on the country: 18 characters in Germany and Austria, 13 in France, 19 in the Netherlands, 23 in Italy and 26 in Luxembourg.

Can a private individual get a creditor identifier?

It depends on the country. In Germany natural persons can apply at the Bundesbank; in France only private persons resident in France can get one; Dutch banks do not supply creditor identifiers to private persons. You only need one if you collect direct debits yourself.

Sources

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