ISO 20022 Structured and Unstructured AddressES
Smarter financial messaging starts with better address data
ISO 20022 is the global standard transforming how financial institutions exchange information. By enabling richer, structured data within financial messages, it improves transparency, automation, and compliance across payments, securities, and trade services.
A key requirement of ISO 20022 is the use of structured or hybrid postal addresses. From November 2025, hybrid addresses become mandatory, and by November 2026, unstructured address formats will no longer be supported. For organisations operating in Africa where address formats are diverse and often informal this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
AfriGIS helps organisations meet ISO 20022 requirements with confidence, using trusted geospatial intelligence to transform real-world addresses into compliant, structured data.
Why Structured Addresses Matter
Addresses are no longer just descriptive information they are critical data assets.
Under ISO 20022, structured address components such as country, town, street name, and building number enable systems to validate, process, and screen transactions automatically. This improves payment success rates, reduces manual intervention, and strengthens regulatory controls such as AML and sanctions screening.
Without reliable address structure, organisations risk failed transactions, processing delays, and non-compliance.
AfriGIS brings order to complex addressing environments, ensuring address data works seamlessly within ISO 20022 frameworks.
ISO 20022 Compliance Timeline
- November 2025
Hybrid address formats become mandatory. Country and town must be provided in structured fields. - November 2026
Unstructured address data is fully phased out. Only structured or hybrid formats will be accepted.
Early adoption reduces risk, cost, and disruption while positioning organisations for future regulatory phases.
How AfriGIS Enables ISO 20022 Compliance
AfriGIS combines authoritative address data with geospatial intelligence to support ISO 20022 implementation across Africa.
Our ISO 20022 Address Solutions include:
- Verified Address Datasets
High-quality locality and country data, maintained and updated quarterly, covering all African countries. - ISO 20022 Structured and Unstructured Address API
A purpose-built API that returns address data in ISO 20022-compliant structured or hybrid formats, ready for integration into banking, payments, and compliance systems. - Flexible Integration Options
Support for exploded address components or fully formatted responses, depending on your system architecture and business rules. - Local Context, Global Standards
AfriGIS reconciles diverse African address types into a single, standardised schema without losing local accuracy.
Applications Across Industries
Financial Services & Banking
- Cross-border payments and CBPR+ compliance
- AML and sanctions screening
- Reduced payment rejections and operational risk
Fintech & Payments
- Faster onboarding and validation
- API-driven compliance at scale
Insurance & Risk Management
- Improved customer location accuracy
- Geographic risk profiling
Logistics & Trade
- Verified destinations for cross-border delivery
- Fewer disputes and failed deliveries
Government & Regulation
- Standardised address data for reporting and oversight
Key Benefits
- Improved Data Quality
Clean, validated address components reduce errors and ambiguity. - Faster, Automated Processing
Structured data enables straight-through processing and fewer payment failures. - Regulatory Confidence
Supports AML, KYC, and sanctions screening with machine-readable address data. - Future-Ready Systems
Avoid repeated migrations by building a scalable, standards-aligned address foundation. - Trusted African Coverage
Address intelligence built specifically for African addressing realities.
Turn Compliance into Competitive Advantage
ISO 20022 is more than a regulatory requirement it is an opportunity to improve data quality, operational efficiency, and decision-making.
With AfriGIS, structured addresses become a reliable source of truth that supports compliance today and unlocks insight tomorrow.
We would appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your business.
This information will help us gain valuable insights and better assess how we can best support your needs.
AFRIGIS APIs
Access verified and validated data via our APIs. Integrate in your own solutions.
Showcase
Experience our capabilities in action.
Take a look at our capabilities, play around, ask us questions. Find out how AfriGIS unlocks the valuable geospatial insights you need to succeed.