Swedish banks are entering an intensive testing phase in the SEK Batch transformation, and by April 14, all banks must be able to receive account-to-account batch payments in the ISO 20022 format. We met with Senior Consultant, and Partner, Mikael Hjorth to discuss the preparation to date, how to succeed with the testing, and why banks should already be planning their launch.
The ongoing SEK Batch transformation is a key part of the Swedish banking sector’s transition to the ISO 20022 XML message format. Starting April 14, 2026, all Swedish banks must be able to receive account-to-account batch payments in the new format, and by autumn the same year, Alias-payments will also have to be both sent and received in it. This marks Sweden’s shift to the same file format, widely used across the Eurozone and other parts of the world.
At the center of this transformation is Bankgirot, the clearing house through which all Swedish batch payments are processed. In practice, Bankgirot sets the standard for message structure and content, and the banks must adapt accordingly.
Since 2024, Mikael Hjorth has been the Project Manager at a mid-sized Swedish bank, where he leads its SEK Batch transformation and holds the ultimate responsibility for delivery. Looking back at the project’s beginning, he describes a long period of preparation that, now in October 2025, moves into an intensive testing phase involving the bank, Bankgirot, and other banks.
The past year has been dedicated to planning, analyzing the current state, and ensuring the right functionality is in place. For example, by mapping the bank’s payment flows and identifying specific use cases. Once we had a clear “as-is” picture, we interpreted Bankgirot’s documentation, determined what was relevant for our bank, and developed the necessary solutions.
Key factors during the preparation stage
Preparing the bank for testing has required close cooperation between IT and business operations, involving system specialists, enterprise architects, developers, and process managers. According to Mikael, one of the biggest challenges has been ensuring the entire organization understands the full scope of the transformation, as it affects a wide range of functions. Another challenge has been that Bankgirot has released information gradually, which has forced the bank to adjust its interpretations along the way.
A key success factor has been translating Bankgirot’s documentation and adopting our solutions accordingly. Each department has needed to understand why changes are happening, how they are impacted by them, and what they need to do. That work means we are now well prepared for the intensive test period ahead.
Hundreds of tests in 100 days
Bankgirot divided the transformation into two phases: In Phase 1, the major banks were tasked with interpreting, developing, and testing their solutions. Mikael’s client belongs to the so-called Phase 2 banks, which are only now beginning their testing against Bankgirot and other banks. The test period runs from October until the end of March 2026.
Bankgirot requires each bank to complete more than 170 test cases for its new payment flows, and most of them also involve a receiving bank. That means we are looking at hundreds of tests over roughly 100 working days. Additionally, we must resolve any defects discovered during testing. Time is short, but the time is now.
Focus on testing, plan for launch
To succeed during this period, the bank needs both capacity and speed in testing, which requires dedicated personnel to perform the tests. Specialist expertise will also be required, however, it is difficult to predict in advance exactly which skills will be needed, as this depends on the challenges that arise during testing.
Success will require commitment across the entire organization. For instance, if one development team completes its test cases, it must be ready to support another immediately. At the end of the day, this is about working as a team, both internally and across the banking sector.
Alongside the testing, Mikael has also begun preparing the bank’s launch plan for SEK Batch, since they must be ready to receive payments by April 14. Later in autumn, the complete transition takes place, when banks must both send and receive payments in the new standard.
You will want to be well prepared for the launch on April 14. My advice is to focus on and respect the testing period, while also making time to plan your runbook for the launch with the right strategy, resources, and schedule. If 2025 was a significant year in Payments, 2026 will be even bigger.
How well is your organization prepared for next year’s SEK Batch launch? Contact us and let’s find the best way ahead.
Share:
