GDPR and SEPA mandate retention: what to keep and for how long
Mandate retention obligations under GDPR and SEPA regulation: 14 months after last collection, format and traceability.
TL;DR
The mandate (original signature or e-sign) must be kept at least 14 months after the last collection. GDPR requires justifying the legal basis and allowing debtor opt-out.
Context
SEPA decisions are usually made once and carried for years. This article helps you choose well the first time.
Practical comparison
If the regulation applies to you, weigh these four vectors:
- Cost per operation and return fees.
- Operational load: how many hours per month does your team invest?
- Control and traceability: do you need to audit every step?
- Customer experience and churn by payment method.
When it matters
If your monthly volume exceeds 50 recurring operations, the economic and operational difference is clear. Below that, the decision depends more on the customer type and country.
Try it with GenerateSEPA
Upload a test file to GenerateSEPA and compare the flow against your current setup. It’s free and doesn’t require a CID. Before submitting to your bank, always validate with our SEPA XML Validator.
Conclusion
There’s no universal answer. But now you have the criteria to decide with data.
