The Cornerstone of eBanking

Corporate customers expect banks to provide secure customer/bank data exchange solutions that are internet-based and multibank-capable. The German banking industry has complied with this requirement since January 2008, when the ZKA (Zentraler Kreditausschuss) – the German banking industry’s central steering committee – made EBICS (Electronic Banking Internet Communication Standard) implementation mandatory.

EBICS sets standards for internet-based and multibank-capable products as well as for electronic banking systems. The EBICS specification extends the FTAM multibank standard (in use since 1995) on the basis of standard file transfer processes. EBICS allows software manufacturers to simultaneously develop software based on the new standard while converting their existing internet-based customer and bank systems into multibank-capable ones.

EBICS sets the stage for lean, browser-driven customer applications which can be installed via the Internet, thus allowing the customer to use only the necessary parts of the application – for example, for sending and signing files which originate from third-party systems. Furthermore, EBICS makes new functionalities which weren't previously available using the FTAM process possible. One example here is the provision of location-independent electronic signatures.

EBICS uses various methods to ensure secure data exchange via the Internet. Unlike the Customer RDT standard ("DFÜ mit Kunden"), data encryption is a mandatory part of the EBICS specification, which uses a double encryption system for extra security.

The EBICS specification is publicly available and has been approved by the ZKA. Since January 2008, German banks are obliged to accept data and provide files for transmission via EBICS. After a transition period lasting from January 1st, 2008 to December 31st, 2010, EBICS has completely replaced the technically obsolete and more costly FTAM communication protocol, now.

Since January 2008, use of the Deutsche Bundesbank’s SEPA clearer takes place via the EBICS-Interbank communication process. As of mid-2008, the Bundesbank’s existing Retail Payment System (RPS) will also be controlled using EBICS.

The German banking sector represented by ZKA and the French banking sector represented by Comité Français d'Organisation et de Normalisation Bancaires (CFONB) signed a crossborder cooperation agreement on the joint use of EBICS on November 14th 2009. By this agreement, another step in advancement and standardisation of the communication between corporate customer and bank has been achieved.

For the joint maintenance and development of EBICS a company (EBICS SCRL) was founded on June 17th 2010. The EBICS SCRL is owner of the EBICS trademark. The EBICS version 2.5 was published on May 16th, 2011. German and French banks commit to support this version from July 1st 2012. This is the first version which has been specified by the Franco-German EBICS Working Group in a joint effort (for details see right column).

SIZ acts as the central point of contact for all matters concerning EBICS. The EBICS specifications are continually being updated by SIZ, supported by the "EBICS Working Group" of the EBICS SCRL whose members are all experts delegated by ZKA and CFONB. This group discusses change requests which are submitted for approval. SIZ is also responsible for the conception, design and management of the EBICS Internet presence.

Visit the EBICS home page (see right) for more information.