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EBICS TS (Electronic Banking Internet Communication Standard, Transport and Signature) is the protocol French companies use to exchange files with their banks: payment orders, direct debits and statements. Each order is approved with a personal electronic signature, which replaces paper or fax confirmation.
Key takeaways
- EBICS TS adds an electronic signature to the secure transport of bank files.
- It is used in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland; SWIFT takes over for international flows.
- Banking communication software centralises exchanges with every bank and every account.
What is the EBICS TS protocol?
EBICS is a secure communication protocol between a company and its banks. It is used to send payment files (SEPA credit transfers, direct debits, international payments) and to receive account statements, directly from an ERP or treasury management software.
The first version, EBICS T (Transport), carried the files but required a separate written, signed confirmation, often sent by fax. EBICS TS (Transport and Signature) builds the electronic signature into the exchange: the bank checks the signatory’s identity and the integrity of the order before executing it. The CFONB, the French banking standards body, recommends that banks accept only this validation method.
How does EBICS TS work?
An EBICS TS exchange involves four parties:
- The company, which issues payment orders to its suppliers, partners and subsidiaries.
- The signatory, an authorised person who approves payments with their signing key.
- The bank, which checks the signatory’s identity and the file’s integrity before executing the payment.
- The certification authority, which issues the signing keys and confirms the signatory’s identity to the bank.
Good to know. With a 3SKEY certificate, one signatory can use a single key with all their banks instead of one key per bank.
EBICS TS advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Security. Files are encrypted and every order is personally signed: no payment leaves without approval from an authorised person.
- Compliance and traceability. During an audit, the company can prove who approved each payment.
- Centralisation. A multi-entity group brings the orders of all its subsidiaries and accounts together in a single flow.
- Automation. Statements arrive in the treasury software every day, with no re-keying.
Limitations
- A European scope. EBICS is not the standard for banks outside Europe: international payments usually go through SWIFT.
- One contract per bank. Each bank provides its own connection parameters, which requires planning during roll-out.
Centralise your EBICS TS and SWIFT exchangesE-Control Communication connects all your banks and secures every payment.
Discover the solutionEBICS TS or SWIFT: what is the difference?
EBICS TS connects a company to its banks in Europe; SWIFT is a global interbank network, founded in 1973, that companies use for their international flows. The two often work side by side within the same group.
| Criterion | EBICS TS | SWIFT |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland | More than 200 countries |
| Typical use | Domestic and SEPA flows | Cross-border payments, international groups |
| Approval | Personal electronic signature | Secure network, signature depending on access mode |
| Access | EBICS contract with each bank | Alliance Lite2 or service bureau |
| Implementation | Quick, through banking communication software | Heavier project, network access costs |
How do you implement EBICS TS?
- List your banks and accounts. Identify the banks, entities and signatories involved.
- Request an EBICS TS contract from each bank. It contains the parameters needed to connect.
- Obtain signing certificates from a certification authority, ideally 3SKEY.
- Configure your banking communication software. Enter the contracts, then assign each signatory to their accounts.
- Test, then go live. Check that statements arrive and that a first file is sent successfully before switching to production.
Customer experience. CCI Hauts-de-France obtained EBICS TS contracts from every bank of its four chambers before configuration began. Their advice: plan this step early to avoid back-and-forth. Read the case study
EBICS TS: frequently asked questions
What does EBICS TS stand for?
EBICS stands for Electronic Banking Internet Communication Standard. TS refers to the “Transport and Signature” version, which adds an electronic signature for each order to the secure transport of files.
What is the difference between EBICS T and EBICS TS?
EBICS T transports files but requires a separate written, signed confirmation. EBICS TS builds the electronic signature into the exchange, so paper or fax confirmation is no longer needed.
Does EBICS TS work with all French banks?
French banks offer EBICS TS to their corporate customers. Each bank provides a contract with its own connection parameters.
Do you have to choose between EBICS TS and SWIFT?
No. Groups with flows in France and abroad often use both. Banking communication software lets you manage EBICS TS and SWIFT in a single tool.
