Banking protocols
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To communicate with your banks, the NEOFI Payment offers you the option of choosing from a range of proven banking communication protocols that allow you to exchange files in various formats: XML (SEPA or international), Swift (MTxxx) or national formats (CFONB, AEB, DTA, etc.) .

➤ The EBICS protocol (↓ Learn more)

EBICS (Electronic Banking Internet Communication Standard) is a standardized and secure banking communication protocol available in France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

EBICS
File transfer with confirmation via another channel (formerly by fax).

EBICS TS:
File transfer and digital signature of orders.

Advantages:
Free, simple, secure, no volume limits.

Supports all international, local, and XML formats: SCT, SDD, PSR, acmt, etc.

Integrated personal digital signature.

In its version 3.0, this protocol is the same in France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Disadvantages:
Version 2.4 does not allow exchanges with German-speaking banks;

Version 3 only allows exchanges in four European countries.

Implementation requires some expertise: banking procedures, service validation, key initialization, service activation, key renewal, etc.

Comments:
Electronic signatures are made using an external physical medium containing a signature token, such as Swift 3SKey, Certeurope, Keynectis, ClicNTrust, etc.

Tokens

➤ The SWIFT protocol (↓ Learn more)

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a Belgian cooperative society owned by financial institutions. Its role is to offer its users a secure messaging service (FIN) and a file transfer service (FileAct) on its private SWIFTNet network.

Advantages:
Simple, secure, unlimited data volume

; carries all international, local, and XML formats: SCT, SDD, PSR, acmt, etc.

A personal digital signature is not mandatory but is sometimes required by certain banks.

Almost all banks worldwide are connected to the SWIFT network, and many allow businesses to exchange data via this network.

Disadvantages:
Fees apply for both membership and usage (based on volume or number of files);
implementation requires significant expertise.

Comments:
Access to the SWIFT network is fee-based and requires following a rather demanding administrative procedure: in addition to registering with SWIFT, the company must sign a contract called SCORE (Standardised Corporate Environment) with each of its banks.

➤ The secure FTP protocol (↓ Learn more)

FTPS (FTP with SSL) or SFTP (SSH FTP) are two secure data exchange protocols that allow direct communication between the client and the server.

Advantages:
Simple, secure (SSL), unlimited data volume;

carries all international, local, and XML formats: SCT, SDD, PSR, acmt, etc.

Disadvantages:
Even though the channel is secure, the data travels over the public (unmonitored) network, and transfer times are not guaranteed.

While simple, setup is tedious and recurring because the connection must be established point-to-point with each bank.

Comments:
This is the oldest, best-known, and most proven protocol. However, some banks refuse to perform exchanges via secure FTP .