Overview

• From 9 October 2025, banks and payment service providers across SEPA must let every account holder send instant credit transfers through the same channels as ordinary transfers, including apps, ATMs, branches and call centers.
• Instant payments will support scheduled (“futura”) execution and the maximum amount per transfer rises to €100,000.
• Verification of Payee will automatically compare the recipient’s name with the IBAN and issue a real‑time alert if they do not match, after which customers may still choose to proceed.
• When a mismatch is flagged and the payer proceeds, the payer’s bank is exonerated from liability for an erroneous transfer.
• The move is the second phase of EU Regulation UE 204/886 after January’s cost‑parity rule, with non‑euro EU states due to comply in 2027, as Bank of Italy data show €65.5 million in fraudulent bonifici in H2 2024.