Swift selected to build and operate EPC Directory Service for VOP scheme
The European Payments Council (EPC) has selected Swift to deliver the incoming EPC Directory Service (EDS), which is set to go live on 5 October 2025.

ECP selects Swift to build Directory Service
Swift has been tasked with developing and operating the ESD, which the EPC describes as a “key component” for payment service providers (PSPs) to operate the EPC Verification of Payee (VOP) scheme.
In adherence to Instant Payment Regulation (IPR) requirements, this scheme ensures that the name of the payee matches the account number before a payment is authorised by credit or instant credit transfer.
To facilitate interoperability between participants of the VOP scheme, including Routing and Verification Mechanisms (RVMs), the EDS will store and make available information regarding the identification of PSPs to authorised business users.
Included in the scope of this data access are API endpoints and uniform resource identifiers (URIs), which are needed for routing payments. Personal consumer data will not be accessed by the platform.
While the EDS is specifically important for the VOP scheme, it will also support other EPC API-based schemes, such as SEPA Request-to-Pay (SRTP) and SEPA Payment Account Access (SPAA).
In comments, Giorgio Andreoli, director general of the EPC, reveals that the selection of Swift followed “a very competitive RFP (Request for Proposal) process to which several relevant European and global suppliers of IT services participated”.
He describes the subsequent agreement with Swift as “a significant milestone in advancing the VOP scheme”, which will ensure “greater security and interoperability in payments across Europe”.
The EPC is expected to publish technical guidelines for PSPs and RVMs next month, ahead of the EDS platform’s expected rollout later this year.