Non-Euro SEPA Countries
A common misconception: SEPA does not mean "eurozone." SEPA — the Single Euro Payments Area — covers all EU member states plus several non-EU countries, and 13 SEPA members use their own national currency rather than the Euro.
SEPA membership means these countries participate in SEPA payment schemes (SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Direct Debit, SEPA Instant), but their banks primarily settle domestic transactions in their local currency. You can send EUR to a SEPA account in Sweden or Poland, but the recipient's bank may convert it to SEK or PLN.
What SEPA membership means
- ✓ Only an IBAN is needed — no BIC/SWIFT required
- ✓ Transfer fees cannot exceed domestic rates
- ✓ EUR transfers settle in 1 day (or instantly via SEPA Instant)
- ✓ SEPA Direct Debit available for recurring payments
Currency nuance for non-euro SEPA
- ⚠ Domestic transfers typically in local currency
- ⚠ Your bank may apply a currency conversion fee
- ⚠ SEPA Instant may not be available in all currencies
- ⚠ Some services distinguish EUR SEPA from non-euro SEPA
13 SEPA Countries Using Non-Euro Currencies
| Country | Currency | IBAN Code | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | BGN Bulgarian Lev | BG | 22 |
| Czech Republic | CZK Czech Koruna | CZ | 24 |
| Denmark | DKK Danish Krone | DK | 18 |
| Gibraltar | GIP Gibraltar Pound | GI | 23 |
| Hungary | HUF Hungarian Forint | HU | 28 |
| Iceland | ISK Icelandic Króna | IS | 26 |
| Liechtenstein | CHF Swiss Franc | LI | 21 |
| Norway | NOK Norwegian Krone | NO | 15 |
| Poland | PLN Polish Zloty | PL | 28 |
| Romania | RON Romanian Leu | RO | 24 |
| Sweden | SEK Swedish Krona | SE | 24 |
| Switzerland | CHF Swiss Franc | CH | 21 |
| United Kingdom | GBP Pound Sterling | GB | 22 |
Practical Guide: Sending EUR to a Non-Euro SEPA Country
1
You only need an IBAN. Even for non-euro SEPA countries, SEPA Credit Transfer rules mean you only need the recipient's IBAN. No BIC/SWIFT required if your bank supports SEPA transfers to that country.
2
Currency conversion may apply. If you send EUR to a Swedish (SEK) account, either your bank or the recipient's bank will convert the currency. Each may charge a foreign exchange fee. Specialist services like Wise typically offer much better rates for cross-currency SEPA transfers.
3
Sending in local currency. If you want to send in the recipient's local currency (e.g. send PLN to Poland), some banks let you send a SEPA Credit Transfer in non-EUR currencies. Others route this as a SWIFT transfer with additional fees. Wise and Revolut handle this transparently.