RF Creditor Reference
Generate or check RF creditor references from an invoice number, in bulk if needed, and create payment QR codes for SEPA transfers.
Payment & FeesBusiness
Fill in the recipient, IBAN and amount to create a payment QR code.
Results are informational. Calculation is based on your input and public rules, official accounting may differ. For accuracy, confirm the final result if needed from the appropriate official source or specialist. See the terms of use.
How it works?
The RF Creditor Reference is an international structured reference format defined in ISO 11649 (2009). It starts with RF followed by two check digits, then up to 21 alphanumeric characters of your own reference. The total length is at most 25 characters.
The check digits are calculated using modulo-97 arithmetic - the same algorithm used for IBAN bank account numbers. The reference and the letters "RF00" are rearranged, all letters are replaced by their numeric equivalents (A=10, B=11 … Z=35), and the check digits are set so that the entire string divides by 97 with a remainder of 1.
The RF reference is designed for automated reconciliation: banks and accounting systems can verify that the reference has not been corrupted in transit, and match the payment to the correct invoice automatically.
Working with many invoices? The Batch tab processes up to 1000 references at once. For an API or an integration with your invoicing software, write to info@kahur.ee.
Frequently asked questions
What is an RF creditor reference?
An RF creditor reference (ISO 11649) is a standardised payment reference used on SEPA credit transfers. It starts with the letters RF, followed by two check digits, followed by your own reference number (up to 21 alphanumeric characters). The check digits let banks and accounting systems verify the reference automatically and reduce manual reconciliation work.
Where is the RF reference used?
The RF reference is supported across the SEPA payment area - 41 European countries and territories. It is widely used in Finland, the Nordic countries, and the Baltic states for invoicing and B2B payments. When your customer pays an invoice, they include the RF reference in the payment details so you can automatically match the incoming payment to the correct invoice in your accounting system. In Switzerland and Liechtenstein it is one of the reference types of the QR-bill (SCOR), and in Slovenia one of the models on the UPN payment form.
What characters can I use in my reference?
The base reference (the part after RF and the two check digits) may contain digits 0–9 and uppercase letters A–Z. Spaces, hyphens, and other special characters are not allowed inside the reference itself - but the final RF reference may be displayed with spaces every 4 characters for readability (the grouped format). The total reference including RF and check digits must not exceed 25 characters, so your base reference can be at most 21 characters.
How are the check digits calculated?
The ISO 11649 check digit algorithm works as follows: (1) append "RF00" to your base reference; (2) replace each letter with its numeric value (A=10, B=11, … Z=35); (3) calculate the remainder when this large number is divided by 97; (4) subtract the remainder from 98 - the result (padded to two digits) is your check sum. To validate, rearrange the reference by moving the first four characters (RF + check digits) to the end, convert letters to numbers, and check that the result divides evenly by 97 with remainder 1.
What is the difference between the grouped and continuous formats?
Both formats contain identical information - the only difference is spacing. The grouped format (e.g. RF20 1234 5678) splits the reference into blocks of 4 characters with spaces, making it easier to read and verify visually. It is recommended for printing on invoices. The continuous format (e.g. RF2012345678) has no spaces and is suitable for electronic data entry, database storage, or copying into payment systems.
Can I use an RF reference on a Swiss QR-bill?
Yes. The Swiss QR-bill knows three reference types: QRR (the 27-digit QR reference, only with a QR-IBAN), SCOR (the Creditor Reference under ISO 11649, which is exactly the RF reference this calculator makes) and NON (no reference). An RF reference therefore goes with an ordinary IBAN, never with a QR-IBAN. Our Swiss QR-bill calculator makes the whole payment part as a PDF and turns your invoice number into the right reference by itself. Invoicing apps such as Zervant fill in the letters RF for you: there use the "Copy without RF" button. The Payment QR tab here makes an EPC code for euro transfers, which Swiss banking apps do not read.
My bank asks for a reference model (SI, RF or NRC) but the payee gave me a plain number. What do I enter?
The payee's system matches payments on the number the payee gave you, so first check whether they expect an RF reference at all. If they gave you a plain number and your bank form allows it, choose 'no reference' (NRC) and put the number in the message or purpose field. If the form insists on a model, generate an RF reference from the payee's number here: the original number stays readable inside it, right after the two check digits. When in doubt, ask the payee which format they accept.
How do I turn an Estonian or Finnish national reference number into an RF reference?
Enter the complete national reference number, including its own 7-3-1 check digit, in the Generate tab. The tool adds RF and two further check digits (for example 12345672 becomes RF85 1234 5672). Leading zeros used in the Finnish 20-digit digital format do not change the check digits. If you only have the base number and still need the national check digit, tick 'Add the Estonian/Finnish national check digit (7-3-1) first'. You can also make and check an Estonian or Finnish reference in the reference number calculator.
How do I get the result into my invoicing software?
Pick the form the field expects. "Copy result" gives the reference without spaces, for payment files, online banking and data entry. "Copy without RF" is for fields that already show the letters RF (some invoicing programs do this). The "With spaces" row is for printed invoices. Hyphens, dots and slashes in invoice numbers are removed automatically, because an RF reference may contain only A–Z and 0–9. For many invoices at once, use the Batch tab and download the results as CSV.
Why does my RF reference show as invalid?
There are four possible reasons, and the Validate tab names the one that applies: the reference does not start with RF (it is a plain reference, generate the RF version from it); it is shorter than 5 or longer than 25 characters; it contains a character other than A–Z and 0–9 (spaces and hyphens are removed first, so they are not the problem); or the two check digits do not match the rest, which means a character was mistyped, swapped or dropped somewhere. The tool shows what the check digits would be for the reference as typed, but do not simply replace them: the typo may be in the reference part, so compare it with the original invoice.
Which payment QR code do I need: EPC (GiroCode) or a Swiss QR-bill?
It depends on where the payer banks. The EPC code (the Payment QR tab here, called GiroCode in Germany) is a euro transfer in the SEPA area: banking apps in the euro area read it, and the amount is always in euros. The Swiss QR-bill is the payment method of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, in francs or euros, and Swiss banking apps read only that. For a payer in Switzerland make a Swiss QR-bill. A payer in the euro area can pay a Swiss account with the EPC code too, but then the BIC is needed, because Switzerland is outside the EEA.