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RF Creditor Reference Generator & Validator (ISO 11649)

Generate a structured RF reference so incoming euro payments can be matched to invoices automatically, or check whether an RF reference you received was typed correctly.

Updated:

Privacy: The calculation runs in your browser; the full IBAN, account number, amount and reference you enter are not sent to a server, logged or passed to analytics. Some tools may pass only a non-sensitive term (e.g. bank code, BIC, currency) to a lookup service for search/matching. Per-tool detail: Privacy.

1 · Generate an RF reference

Spaces and hyphens are removed automatically. Accented characters and symbols are not allowed.

2 · Validate an RF reference

How does this tool calculate?

Definite — mathematical/standard result
Method/formula used
ISO 11649: RF + 2 check digits + 1–21 alphanumeric characters; MOD-97-10 (same method as IBAN).
Data used
ISO 11649 Structured Creditor Reference standard
Unsupported cases
  • Does not show that the reference is actually assigned to an invoice
  • Does not guarantee that the receiving bank processes structured references

What is an RF reference?

The ISO 11649 Structured Creditor Reference (RF reference) is a payment reference with check digits, used instead of free-text remittance information. The creditor's accounting system can match the incoming euro payment to the right invoice automatically; if the payer mistypes the reference, the check digits catch the error.

Structure

  • RF — fixed prefix
  • 2 check digits — calculated with MOD-97-10 (same method as IBAN)
  • Reference body — 1–21 letters/digits (e.g. your invoice number)

Example: RF18 5390 0754 7034. Printed in groups of four on invoices; transmitted electronically without spaces.

Where is it used?

  • SEPA credit transfer: in the structured remittance field of the ISO 20022 message (RmtInf/Strd/CdtrRefInf). See: SEPA payment reference guide.
  • EPC QR (GiroCode): in the QR's "structured reference" field. See: What is EPC QR?
  • Invoices: as the "payment reference" on invoices you issue to European customers.

Not every banking interface supports entering a structured reference; some payers type the RF reference into the free-text field. This works with most reconciliation systems, but handling on the receiving side depends on the bank and software. The tool checks structural validity only.

Related: SEPA QR generator · SEPA character set converter · Creditor ID validation

Sources

ISO 20022 message standards (pain / camt)

ISO 20022 Registration Authority

A
Document date:
2025
Last checked:
2026-07-16
www.iso20022.org

SEPA scheme rulebooks & geographical scope

European Payments Council (EPC)

A
Document date:
2025
Last checked:
2026-07-16
www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu

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