XML Format

The XML (Extensible Markup Language) format provides a structured, industry-standard approach to payment imports based on the ISO 20022 standard. This format is ideal for automated system-to-system integration and SEPA credit transfers.

Overview

XML format benefits:

✅ ISO 20022 Standard - International banking standard
✅ SEPA Compliant - pain.001.001.03 message format
✅ Machine-readable - Structured hierarchical data
✅ Validation - XSD schema validation
✅ Multilingual - UTF-8 encoding support
✅ Automation - Perfect for system integration
✅ Character conversion - EPC recommended conversion table

File Requirements

Basic Specifications

File extension: .xml
Encoding: UTF-8
Standard: ISO 20022 pain.001.001.03
Schema: XSD (XML Schema Definition)
Message: CustomerCreditTransferInitiationV03
Purpose: Credit transfer initiation

###Type of Messages

The XML format supports:

Message	Description
pain.001.001.03	Customer Credit Transfer Initiation
Bank statements	Account operations report (future)

Message Structure

XML Document Structure

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Document xmlns="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.03"
          xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
          xsi:schemaLocation="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.03 pain.001.001.03.xsd">
    <!-- Message content -->
</Document>

Main Elements

The message consists of three main parts:

Document
└── CstmrCdtTrfInitn (Customer Credit Transfer Initiation)
    ├── GrpHdr (Group Header) - Mandatory, No repeat
    ├── PmtInf (Payment Information) - Mandatory, Repeatable
    │   └── CdtTrfTxInf (Transaction Information) - Mandatory, Repeatable
    └── PmtInf (additional payment batches...)

1. Group Header (GrpHdr)

Mandatory | No Repeat

Contains characteristics shared by all transactions in the message.

Key Fields

Element	Description	Example
MsgId	Unique message identification	`MSG-2023-12-15-001`
CreDtTm	Creation date and time	`2023-12-15T14:30:25`
NbOfTxs	Number of transactions	`3`
CtrlSum	Total of all amounts	`2500.00`
InitgPty	Initiating party name	`Company Name`

Example

<GrpHdr>
  <MsgId>MSG-2023-12-15-001</MsgId>
  <CreDtTm>2023-12-15T14:30:25</CreDtTm>
  <NbOfTxs>3</NbOfTxs>
  <CtrlSum>2500.00</CtrlSum>
  <InitgPty>
    <Nm>ABC Company Ltd</Nm>
  </InitgPty>
</GrpHdr>

2. Payment Information (PmtInf)

Mandatory | Repeatable

Contains debit-side characteristics that apply to a group of transactions.

Key Fields

Element	Description	Example
PmtInfId	Payment information ID	`PMT-BATCH-001`
PmtMtd	Payment method	`TRF` (Transfer)
PmtTpInf	Payment type information	Service level (SEPA)
ReqdExctnDt	Requested execution date	`2023-12-20`
Dbtr	Debtor (payer) information	Name, account
DbtrAcct	Debtor account	IBAN
DbtrAgt	Debtor agent (bank)	BIC
UltmtDbtr	Ultimate debtor	Final payer information
ChrgBr	Charge bearer	`SLEV`, `SHAR`, `CRED`, `DEBT`
BtchBookg	Batch booking	`true` or `false` (optional)
NbOfTxs	Number of transactions	Count (optional)
CtrlSum	Control sum	Total amount (optional)

Charge Bearer Codes

Code	Name	Description
SLEV	Service Level	Following service level agreement
SHAR	Shared	Charges shared between debtor and creditor
CRED	Creditor	All charges borne by creditor
DEBT	Debtor	All charges borne by debtor

Example with SEPA

<PmtInf>
  <PmtInfId>PMT-BATCH-001</PmtInfId>
  <PmtMtd>TRF</PmtMtd>
  <PmtTpInf>
    <SvcLvl>
      <Cd>SEPA</Cd>
    </SvcLvl>
  </PmtTpInf>
  <ReqdExctnDt>2023-12-20</ReqdExctnDt>
  <Dbtr>
    <Nm>ABC Company Ltd</Nm>
  </Dbtr>
  <DbtrAcct>
    <Id>
      <IBAN>LT123456789012345678</IBAN>
    </Id>
  </DbtrAcct>
  <DbtrAgt>
    <FinInstnId>
      <BIC>HABALT22</BIC>
    </FinInstnId>
  </DbtrAgt>
  <UltmtDbtr>
    <Nm>John Doe</Nm>
    <Id>
      <OrgId>
        <Othr>
          <Id>123456789</Id>
          <SchmeNm>
            <Cd>COID</Cd>
          </SchmeNm>
        </Othr>
      </OrgId>
    </Id>
  </UltmtDbtr>
  <ChrgBr>SLEV</ChrgBr>
  <!-- Transaction Information follows -->
</PmtInf>

3. Transaction Information (CdtTrfTxInf)

Mandatory | Repeatable (within PmtInf)

Contains individual transaction details.

Key Fields

Element	Description	Example
PmtId	Payment identification	Instruction ID, End-to-End ID
Amt	Amount	Currency and value
Cdtr	Creditor (beneficiary)	Name
CdtrAcct	Creditor account	IBAN
CdtrAgt	Creditor agent (bank)	BIC (optional for SEPA)
RmtInf	Remittance information	Payment description

Example

<CdtTrfTxInf>
  <PmtId>
    <InstrId>TXN-001</InstrId>
    <EndToEndId>INV-2023-001</EndToEndId>
  </PmtId>
  <Amt>
    <InstdAmt Ccy="EUR">500.00</InstdAmt>
  </Amt>
  <Cdtr>
    <Nm>John Smith</Nm>
  </Cdtr>
  <CdtrAcct>
    <Id>
      <IBAN>LT987654321098765432</IBAN>
    </Id>
  </CdtrAcct>
  <RmtInf>
    <Ustrd>Invoice payment for December 2023</Ustrd>
  </RmtInf>
</CdtTrfTxInf>

Complete Example: SEPA Payment

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Document xmlns="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.03"
          xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
          xsi:schemaLocation="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.03 pain.001.001.03.xsd">
  <CstmrCdtTrfInitn>
    
    <!-- GROUP HEADER -->
    <GrpHdr>
      <MsgId>018be78e4c6aa105d2e26fb28fe6ae40</MsgId>
      <CreDtTm>2016-06-23T09:21:13</CreDtTm>
      <NbOfTxs>1</NbOfTxs>
      <CtrlSum>120</CtrlSum>
      <InitgPty>
        <Nm>Siuntėjas</Nm>
      </InitgPty>
    </GrpHdr>
    
    <!-- PAYMENT INFORMATION -->
    <PmtInf>
      <PmtInfId>43164652</PmtInfId>
      <PmtMtd>TRF</PmtMtd>
      <!-- SEPA Service Level -->
      <PmtTpInf>
        <SvcLvl>
          <Cd>SEPA</Cd>
        </SvcLvl>
      </PmtTpInf>
      <ReqdExctnDt>2016-06-23</ReqdExctnDt>
      
      <!-- DEBTOR (PAYER) -->
      <Dbtr>
        <Nm>Siuntėjas</Nm>
      </Dbtr>
      <DbtrAcct>
        <Id>
          <IBAN>LV70HABA0551016193780</IBAN>
        </Id>
      </DbtrAcct>
      <DbtrAgt>
        <FinInstnId>
          <BIC>HABALV22XXX</BIC>
        </FinInstnId>
      </DbtrAgt>
      
      <!-- ULTIMATE DEBTOR -->
      <UltmtDbtr>
        <Nm>Vardenis Pavardenis</Nm>
        <Id>
          <OrgId>
            <Othr>
              <Id>C56251</Id>
              <SchmeNm>
                <Cd>COID</Cd>
              </SchmeNm>
            </Othr>
          </OrgId>
        </Id>
      </UltmtDbtr>
      
      <!-- CHARGE BEARER -->
      <ChrgBr>SLEV</ChrgBr>
      
      <!-- TRANSACTION -->
      <CdtTrfTxInf>
        <PmtId>
          <InstrId>43164652</InstrId>
          <EndToEndId>43164652</EndToEndId>
        </PmtId>
        <Amt>
          <InstdAmt Ccy="EUR">10.00</InstdAmt>
        </Amt>
        <CdtrAgt>
          <FinInstnId>
            <BIC>HABALV22XXX</BIC>
          </FinInstnId>
        </CdtrAgt>
        <Cdtr>
          <Nm>Vardenis Pavardenis</Nm>
        </Cdtr>
        <CdtrAcct>
          <Id>
            <IBAN>LV30HABA0551020958461</IBAN>
          </Id>
        </CdtrAcct>
        <RmtInf>
          <Ustrd>Paskirtis</Ustrd>
        </RmtInf>
      </CdtTrfTxInf>
      
    </PmtInf>
    
  </CstmrCdtTrfInitn>
</Document>

Complete Example: Multiple Payments

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Document xmlns="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.03"
          xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
          xsi:schemaLocation="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.03 pain.001.001.03.xsd">
  <CstmrCdtTrfInitn>
    
    <!-- GROUP HEADER -->
    <GrpHdr>
      <MsgId>MSG-SALARIES-2023-12</MsgId>
      <CreDtTm>2023-12-15T14:30:25</CreDtTm>
      <NbOfTxs>3</NbOfTxs>
      <CtrlSum>3500.00</CtrlSum>
      <InitgPty>
        <Nm>ABC Company Ltd</Nm>
      </InitgPty>
    </GrpHdr>
    
    <!-- PAYMENT INFORMATION BATCH -->
    <PmtInf>
      <PmtInfId>SALARY-BATCH-DEC-2023</PmtInfId>
      <PmtMtd>TRF</PmtMtd>
      <BtchBookg>false</BtchBookg>
      <NbOfTxs>3</NbOfTxs>
      <CtrlSum>3500.00</CtrlSum>
      <ReqdExctnDt>2023-12-30</ReqdExctnDt>
      
      <!-- DEBTOR -->
      <Dbtr>
        <Nm>ABC Company Ltd</Nm>
      </Dbtr>
      <DbtrAcct>
        <Id>
          <IBAN>LT123456789012345678</IBAN>
        </Id>
      </DbtrAcct>
      <DbtrAgt>
        <FinInstnId>
          <BIC>HABALT22</BIC>
        </FinInstnId>
      </DbtrAgt>
      
      <!-- TRANSACTION 1 -->
      <CdtTrfTxInf>
        <PmtId>
          <InstrId>SAL-001</InstrId>
          <EndToEndId>SALARY-JOHN-DEC</EndToEndId>
        </PmtId>
        <Amt>
          <InstdAmt Ccy="EUR">1200.00</InstdAmt>
        </Amt>
        <Cdtr>
          <Nm>John Smith</Nm>
        </Cdtr>
        <CdtrAcct>
          <Id>
            <IBAN>LT111111111111111111</IBAN>
          </Id>
        </CdtrAcct>
        <RmtInf>
          <Ustrd>Salary December 2023</Ustrd>
        </RmtInf>
      </CdtTrfTxInf>
      
      <!-- TRANSACTION 2 -->
      <CdtTrfTxInf>
        <PmtId>
          <InstrId>SAL-002</InstrId>
          <EndToEndId>SALARY-JANE-DEC</EndToEndId>
        </PmtId>
        <Amt>
          <InstdAmt Ccy="EUR">1300.00</InstdAmt>
        </Amt>
        <Cdtr>
          <Nm>Jane Doe</Nm>
        </Cdtr>
        <CdtrAcct>
          <Id>
            <IBAN>LT222222222222222222</IBAN>
          </Id>
        </CdtrAcct>
        <RmtInf>
          <Ustrd>Salary December 2023</Ustrd>
        </RmtInf>
      </CdtTrfTxInf>
      
      <!-- TRANSACTION 3 -->
      <CdtTrfTxInf>
        <PmtId>
          <InstrId>SAL-003</InstrId>
          <EndToEndId>SALARY-BOB-DEC</EndToEndId>
        </PmtId>
        <Amt>
          <InstdAmt Ccy="EUR">1000.00</InstdAmt>
        </Amt>
        <Cdtr>
          <Nm>Bob Johnson</Nm>
        </Cdtr>
        <CdtrAcct>
          <Id>
            <IBAN>LT333333333333333333</IBAN>
          </Id>
        </CdtrAcct>
        <RmtInf>
          <Ustrd>Salary December 2023</Ustrd>
        </RmtInf>
      </CdtTrfTxInf>
      
    </PmtInf>
    
  </CstmrCdtTrfInitn>
</Document>

Character Set

Supported Characters

XML format supports multilingual UTF-8 encoding. The following Latin character set is mandatory:

Letters:

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Digits:

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Special characters:

/ - ? : ( ) . , ' + Space

Character Conversion

All other UTF-8 characters in payments are converted according to the EPC recommended conversion table.

Examples of conversion:

Original	Converted	Description
ą	a	Lithuanian
ė	e	Lithuanian
ų	u	Lithuanian
ž	z	Lithuanian
ä	a	German
ö	o	German
€	EUR	Euro symbol

Validation

XSD Schema Validation

XML files must be validated against the pain.001.001.03.xsd schema:

xsi:schemaLocation="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.001.001.03 pain.001.001.03.xsd"

Control Validation

Group Header CtrlSum must equal sum of all amounts:

GrpHdr/CtrlSum = Sum of all CdtTrfTxInf/Amt

Group Header NbOfTxs must equal total transaction count:

GrpHdr/NbOfTxs = Count of all CdtTrfTxInf elements

Payment Info CtrlSum must equal sum of batch amounts:

PmtInf/CtrlSum = Sum of CdtTrfTxInf/Amt in that PmtInf

ISO 20022 Message Elements

For complete message element definitions, refer to:

📚 ISO 20022 Message Definitions

This includes detailed descriptions of:

pain.001.001.03 structure
Element data types
Business rules
Usage guidelines

Downloads

Official Files

📥 Example XML file - SEPA payment example

📥 ISO 20022 Documentation - Official standard documentation

Common Use Cases

1. SEPA Credit Transfers

<PmtMtd>TRF</PmtMtd>

Standard SEPA euro payments within EU/EEA.

2. Salary Payments

<PmtInf>
  <PmtInfId>SALARY-BATCH-2023-12</PmtInfId>
  <BtchBookg>false</BtchBookg>
  <!-- Multiple employee payments -->
</PmtInf>

Batch processing of multiple salary payments.

3. Supplier Payments

<RmtInf>
  <Ustrd>Invoice INV-2023-001 payment</Ustrd>
</RmtInf>

Payment with invoice reference.

4. International Transfers

<CdtrAgt>
  <FinInstnId>
    <BIC>CHASUS33</BIC>
  </FinInstnId>
</CdtrAgt>

Non-SEPA payments with BIC code.

Best Practices

✅ DO

Validate against XSD schema before sending
Use UTF-8 encoding
Include unique message IDs
Verify control sums match totals
Provide clear payment descriptions
Use IBAN format for all accounts
Include BIC for international transfers
Test with small batches first

❌ DON'T

Use unsupported special characters
Exceed field length limits
Mix different currency in same batch
Forget namespace declarations
Use invalid date formats
Omit mandatory fields
Create files with multiple Document tags

Error Handling

Common Validation Errors

Error	Cause	Solution
Schema validation failed	Invalid XML structure	Check against XSD schema
Control sum mismatch	Sum doesn't match total	Recalculate CtrlSum
Invalid IBAN	Incorrect account format	Validate IBAN checksum
Missing namespace	xmlns not declared	Add proper namespace
Invalid characters	Unsupported UTF chars	Use conversion table
Wrong date format	Incorrect datetime	Use ISO 8601 format

XML vs Other Formats

Feature	XML	MOKESIS	TARESIS	XLS
Standard	ISO 20022	Paysera	Paysera	Manual
Structure	Hierarchical	Flat	Flat	Table
Validation	XSD schema	Manual	Manual	Manual
SEPA	✅ Native	❌	❌	❌
Automation	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
International	✅ Full	❌ Limited	✅ Full	❌
Complexity	High	Medium	High	Low
Best for	Systems	Bulk	Intl routing	Manual

When to Use XML

✅ Use XML format for:

SEPA credit transfers
System-to-system integration
ERP/accounting software exports
Large volume automated payments
International standard compliance
Banking APIs and web services
Multi-currency transactions
Structured payment data

❌ Use other formats for:

Manual data entry → XLS
Simple bulk imports → MOKESIS
Complex routing needs → TARESIS
FiDAViSta systems → FiDAViSta

Support

Need help with XML format?

📧 Email: support@paysera.com
📞 Phone: Contact Information
📚 ISO 20022: www.iso20022.org

Next Steps

Download example → - Get sample XML file
Review ISO 20022 → - Study standard
Generate from your system - Export XML from ERP
Validate - Check against XSD schema
Import to Paysera - Upload and process

Additional Resources

MOKESIS Format → - Alternative bulk format
TARESIS Format → - International transfers
FiDAViSta Format → - ERP integration
View all formats → - Return to overview

Overview​

File Requirements​

Basic Specifications​

Message Structure​

XML Document Structure​

Main Elements​

1. Group Header (GrpHdr)​

Key Fields​

Example​

2. Payment Information (PmtInf)​

Key Fields​

Charge Bearer Codes​

Example with SEPA​

3. Transaction Information (CdtTrfTxInf)​

Key Fields​

Example​

Complete Example: SEPA Payment​

Complete Example: Multiple Payments​

Character Set​

Supported Characters​

Character Conversion​

Validation​

XSD Schema Validation​

Control Validation​

ISO 20022 Message Elements​

Downloads​

Official Files​

Common Use Cases​

1. SEPA Credit Transfers​

2. Salary Payments​

3. Supplier Payments​

4. International Transfers​

Best Practices​

✅ DO​

❌ DON'T​

Error Handling​

Common Validation Errors​

XML vs Other Formats​

When to Use XML​

Support​

Next Steps​

Additional Resources​

Overview

File Requirements

Basic Specifications

Message Structure

XML Document Structure

Main Elements

1. Group Header (GrpHdr)

Key Fields

Example

2. Payment Information (PmtInf)

Key Fields

Charge Bearer Codes

Example with SEPA

3. Transaction Information (CdtTrfTxInf)

Key Fields

Example

Complete Example: SEPA Payment

Complete Example: Multiple Payments

Character Set

Supported Characters

Character Conversion

Validation

XSD Schema Validation

Control Validation

ISO 20022 Message Elements

Downloads

Official Files

Common Use Cases

1. SEPA Credit Transfers

2. Salary Payments

3. Supplier Payments

4. International Transfers

Best Practices

✅ DO

❌ DON'T

Error Handling

Common Validation Errors

XML vs Other Formats

When to Use XML

Support

Next Steps

Additional Resources