Important changes and what you need to do

Changes to payment transactions in Switzerland

The Swiss financial center is constantly evolving and PostFinance is also adapting to meet international standards. You can find all the relevant information on current changes to payment transactions here.

The three changes described relate to different areas of payment transactions. This includes invoicing and payment orders through to electronic account statements. 

Depending on the software and services used, you may be affected by some or all of the changes. 

  • If you create QR-bills, transfer payment files in pain.001 format and receive camt messages (notifications) from PostFinance, all three measures are relevant to you. 

  • If you only use some of these functions, only the relevant topic area will affect you. 

Since November 2025 , the use of structured addresses in QR-bills has been mandatory. PostFinance will continue to accept invoices with unstructured addresses until 13  November  2026.

From 14  November  2026, this obligation will also apply to payment orders in the pain.001 format.

What is a structured address?

A structured address consists of clearly separated data fields such as:

  • Street
  • House number
  • Postcode
  • Location (mandatory field)
  • Country (mandatory field)

Example of a complete structured address in ISO format:


         <Cdtr>
         <Nm>EXAMPLE LTD</Nm>
         <PstlAdr>
                    <StrtNm>Example street</StrtNm>
                    <BldgNb>24</BldgNb>
                    <PstCd>3000</PstCd>
                    <TwnNm>Bern</TwnNm>
                    <Ctry>CH</Ctry>
         </PstlAdr>
</Cdtr>       

Tolerance: we recommend entering street and building number information in the elements provided for this purpose. Until further notice, entering the building number (sub-element ) in the street element () is still permitted in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. However, for SEPA and international payments, the transaction can be rejected.

Why is this important?

  • Avoid rejections by financial institutions
  • More efficient processing and clear address allocation
  • Compliance with regulatory requirements

What do you need to do?

  • Make sure that your invoicing software supports structured addresses for invoicing and payment initiation.
  • Use the official SIX Implementation Guidelines and the PostFinance manual for technical specifications for technical details.

Related links and documents

Since November 2022, the new ISO version 2019 has been in operation for camt messages in the Swiss financial center. This applies in particular to account statements and notifications you receive from PostFinance.

What does this mean for you?

  • Your systems must support the new ISO 2019 version as of 14 November 2026.
  • The switch will not take place automatically. You must actively inform PostFinance when you are ready to receive camt messages in the new version.

How does the switch work?

  • You can make the switch yourself in e-finance.
  • Please note that the person making the switch requires the “Admin” e-right in e-finance.
  • The switch only affects the delivery of camt messages – the submission of payment files (pain.001) is separate from this.

Advantages of the new version

  • Improved data structure and additional fields
  • Greater consistency and better automation options
  • Future-proof thanks to international standardization

Related links and documents

Instructions: Independent ISO version change for camt messages in e-finance at PostFinance (PDF) The link will open in a new window

Since November 2022, the new ISO version 2019 for payment files in pain.001 format has applied in the Swiss financial center for payment files in this format. This affects all electronic payment orders that you send to PostFinance.

What does this mean for you?

The new version brings technical enhancements and more data fields, e.g. for structured addresses, extended use purposes and additional payment details.

What do you need to do?

  • Make sure that your software as of 14  November  2026  supports the new ISO version V2019.
  • No separate message to PostFinance is required. As soon as you have switched your software, simply send your payment files in the new format.
  • PostFinance will likewise send you the relevant pain.002 messages in the new version.

Advantages of the new version

  • Uniform data structure for all payment methods
  • Improved automation and processing
  • Future-proof thanks to international standardization

Related links and documents

Factsheet: ISO 20022 pain message extension for the new 2019 version (PDF) The link will open in a new window

  • Not necessarily. The three changes concern different payment transaction functions. Check which of these are relevant to your company.

    • Avoidance of rejects by financial institutions
    • More efficient processing and unique address allocation
    • Compliance with regulatory requirements

Questions about structured addresses

  • A structured address contains clearly separated fields such as street, house number, postcode, town and country. It is machine-readable and improves the processing of payment data.

  • Contact your software provider or your IT department. Most current ERP and accounting systems already offer this function. The The link will open in a new windowPostFinance test platform also helps you to identify EPO files (pain.001) with unstructured addresses.

  • By mid-November 2026, it will be ensured that financial institutions can process QR-bills with a combined address. After this date, QR-bills without a structured address may be rejected by financial institutions.
    Electronic payment orders with the pain.001 XML format and unstructured addresses will not be rejected outright for the time being. Successful processing as far as the payment recipient will no longer be guaranteed. This is why PostFinance strongly recommends using structured addresses only.

Questions on the ISO version change for camt messages

  • Camt messages are electronic account statements and notifications in XML format that you receive from PostFinance.

  • Make sure that your software as of 14 November 2026 supports the new ISO version V2019. You can then make the switch directly in e-finance under Profile and Settings – Administration – Reports and deliveries – Overview of deliveries. Please note that the person making the switch requires the “Admin” e-right in e-finance.

  • PostFinance recommends switching by 13 November 2026 at the latest.

  • The old version will continue to be accepted by PostFinance after 13 November 2026 until further notice. However, this will no longer be developed. As a result, it is to be expected that data may be cut off or lost. In addition, the old version will be discontinued at short notice if, for example, the Swiss standard again introduces new ISO versions. We therefore recommend that you make the required changes.

Questions on the ISO version change for pain.001

  • pain.001 is the XML format for electronic payment orders that you send to PostFinance.

  • No. PostFinance will automatically recognize the switch as soon as you use the new version.

  • More data fields, better automation and international standardization.

  • The old version will continue to be accepted by PostFinance after 13 November 2026 until further notice. However, this will no longer be developed. As a result, it is to be expected that data may be cut off or lost. In addition, the old version will be discontinued at short notice if, for example, the Swiss standard again introduces new ISO versions. We therefore recommend that you make the required changes.

Do you have any questions about the software switch?

Please contact your software manufacturer or your internal IT department directly.