What it means
This rule checks that cac:PaymentMeans/cac:PaymentMandate/cac:PayerFinancialAccount contains no cac:FinancialInstitutionBranch block. It does not target bank branch details under cac:PayeeFinancialAccount.
Why it matters
EN 16931 does not use this bank branch block for the account to be debited (BT-91). The payment service provider identifier (BT-86) in bank transfer details is separate.
How to fix it
Remove cac:FinancialInstitutionBranch only from cac:PaymentMeans/cac:PaymentMandate/cac:PayerFinancialAccount. Keep the account identifier (BT-91). Do not remove bank transfer details under cac:PayeeFinancialAccount to clear this warning. Save or re-export the XML and recheck it.
Once the file is corrected, check it again for free: Validate an invoice against EN 16931
Or fix the invoice in a form and download the corrected file, for 1 credit: Fix a rejected e-invoice
The rule as published
A UBL invoice should not include the PaymentMeans PaymentMandate PayerFinancialAccount FinancialInstitutionBranch Where this rule applies
| Rule set | Version |
|---|---|
| EN 16931 (UBL) | 1.3.17 |
| EN 16931 (UBL credit note) | 1.3.17 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (UBL) | 3.0.2 |
| XRechnung 3.0 (UBL credit note) | 3.0.2 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (invoice) | 2026.5 |
| Peppol BIS Billing 3.0 (credit note) | 2026.5 |
| SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (invoice) | 2.0.3.13 |
| SI-UBL 2.0 / NLCIUS (credit note) | 2.0.3.13 |
| France CTC (UBL invoice) | 1.4.0-04 |
| France CTC (UBL credit note) | 1.4.0-04 |
| CIUS-RO UBL Invoice 1.0.9 | 1.0.9 |
| CIUS-RO UBL Credit Note 1.0.9 | 1.0.9 |
Check your file
Drop your e-invoice to see whether UBL-CR-446 still fails, and which other rules do.