What Is SEPA?
SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is a unified payment network covering all EU countries, the EEA, Switzerland, and a few other territories. It allows sending euro transfers across borders as easily as domestic ones, using only the recipient’s IBAN.
Blackcat supports both SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) and SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst).
SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT)
Processing time: 1–2 business days (depending on the bank’s cut-off times and weekends).
Availability: Standard for all banks in the SEPA zone.
Cost: Free from Blackcat’s side; some receiving banks may charge fees.
Use case: Suitable for regular payments (e.g., salary, rent, suppliers).
Execution: Once processed, the funds cannot be recalled unless the receiving bank agrees.
SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst)
Processing time: Within seconds (24/7/365).
Availability: Only if both sending and receiving banks support SEPA Instant.
Amount limit: Up to 100,000 EUR per transaction (network-wide cap; actual limit may depend on the recipient’s bank).
Use case: Urgent transfers, time-sensitive payments, sending money during evenings, weekends, or holidays.
Key Differences at a Glance
Feature | SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) | SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) |
|---|---|---|
Speed | 1–2 business days | A few seconds (real-time) |
Availability | Business hours, Mon–Fri (depends on bank) | 24/7/365 |
Maximum amount | No strict EU cap (depends on bank) | 100,000 EUR per transfer |
Requirements | Any SEPA-participating bank | Both banks must support Instant |
Reliability | Standard & universal | Fast but not supported everywhere |
How It Works in Blackcat
Both options are available in the app when making a transfer.
If SEPA Instant is not supported by the recipient’s bank, your transfer will automatically be processed as a standard SEPA Credit Transfer.