Before activating SEPA Direct Debit via XML Export, be sure to:
Turn off Stripe’s automatic payment links
Configure your manual payment email in Kinnovis
These steps discussed in the previous article are essential to avoid duplicate payments and ensure a smooth customer experience.
Once completed, you can go ahead and enable this payment method for your selected location for which you want to collect payments via direct debits through your bank. Once active, you’ll be able to store mandates and export XML files for processing via your bank.
Steps to Enable:
Go to Location Settings > Manager Billing
Add SEPA via XML Export
Click on save
You have now added "SEPA via XML" as a payment method. Be aware that if you want to enable this for multiple sites, you need to set this up separately for each location.
What's the Difference between "SEPA via XML" and "SEPA via Stripe"
You can see two different SEPA payment methods in the selection. Be clear to choose the one you want to enable for the location. While both options allow you to collect payments from customers using SEPA direct debit, they work very differently in terms of control, cost, and processing.
| SEPA via Stripe | SEPA via XML Export |
Who processes the payment | Stripe handles payment execution | You manage the mandates and upload payment files to your bank without Stripe |
Mandate capture | Automatically managed by Stripe during checkout or Manager | Manually entered and stored in Kinnovis by the operator only via Manager |
Fees | Stripe charges transaction and processing fees | No Stripe fees – you only pay what your bank may charge |
Settlement time | Controlled by Stripe – typically 5–7 business days | Controlled by your bank’s processing timeline |
Payment control | Stripe initiates automatically | You decide when and how payments are collected via your bank (via the XML file) |
Refund/dispute handling | Managed through Stripe | Managed directly with your bank |
Use case | Ideal for smaller operators or where automation is preferred | Ideal for high-volume operators looking to reduce costs and maintain full control |