SEPA payments: are you ready for VoP by October 9?

Aug 01, 2025

finance

Starting October 9, 2025, a new European regulation will quietly - but significantly - reshape how SEPA payments are processed. If your ERP or payment systems aren’t ready, you risk payment rejections, operational delays, and even reputational damage. But with the right preparation, this change can also be a catalyst for stronger fraud prevention and smarter financial operations. Let’s unpack what’s coming and how you can stay ahead.

What is Verification of Payee (VoP)?

VoP is a mandatory security check that verifies whether the payee’s name matches the account number before a payment is executed. It’s designed to:

Prevent fraud by catching mismatches before money leaves your account
Boost trust in payment accuracy
Standardize how banks across Europe handle payments

Practically, this means that the VoP check must happen at the moment of payment execution. Banks can provide feedback either online, through their banking portal, or by sending a VPZ (pain.002) message. There are four possible outcomes: MATCH, CLOSE MATCH, NO MATCH, or NOT APPLICABLE. While VoP is mandatory for single payments, there is an Opt-Out option for bulk (batch) payments - though not all banks may support it, so coordination is key.

From October 9 onward, all European banks must implement VoP for SEPA payments. And this is just the beginning: broader payment types will follow under the upcoming Payment Services Regulation (PSR) and Instant Payments Regulation (IPR), which will make 24/7 real-time payments the new norm.

Why does this matter for CFOs and finance teams?

The regulation sounds simple, but the implementation is anything but. Banks are interpreting the rules differently. Some may opt out of VoP for batch payments, others may not. Some might reject individual payments, others could block entire payment files if mismatches are detected. This creates a high-stakes environment for finance teams. And with the IPR mandating instant payments across the EU by the end of 2025, the pressure to modernize payment infrastructure is only increasing.

Therefore, we urge you to reach out to your banks to understand exactly how they will implement the VoP.

How can delaware help?

Yes, this is a compliance challenge. The deadline is tight and there is still a lot of uncertainty. But it’s also a chance to:

Strengthen fraud prevention with real-time validation
Improve payment accuracy and reduce manual error handling
Future-proof your ERP and treasury systems for instant payments

Forward-thinking CFOs are already using this moment to reassess their payment architecture and vendor relationships. At delaware, we help finance teams turn regulatory change into strategic advantage. Our experts can support you in:

Assessing the VoP impact on your ERP and payment systems
Selecting and integrating VoP solutions tailored to your bank setup
Testing and validating payment flows to avoid disruptions
Preparing for instant payments under the IPR

Whether you’re looking for a quick compliance check or a full payment transformation roadmap, we’re here to help you make the transition smooth and stress-free.