Make or check a structured communication
An OGM (gestructureerde mededeling in Dutch, VCS or communication structurée in French) is the 12-digit payment reference that Belgian customers know from invoices. This page generates valid ones from your own numbers, in bulk if you like, and checks existing ones. You can also extract structured communications from any text, and create or check international RF references. Everything is calculated in your browser.
How an OGM is built
An OGM has 12 digits: 10 digits of your own and 2 check digits. The check digits are the first 10 digits modulo 97, using 97 when the remainder is 0. It is written +++123/4567/89012+++, with asterisks as an alternative, or as plain digits. Banks reject payments whose check digits are wrong, so a customer cannot mistype it, and your accounting software can match the payment to the invoice automatically.
Worked example
Take invoice number 12345. Padded to ten digits it becomes 0000012345. That number divided by 97 leaves a remainder of 26, so the check digits are 26 and the full reference is +++000/0012/34526+++. If an invoice number happened to give remainder 0, the check digits would be 97.
Choosing the 10 digits
Most businesses encode the invoice number, padded with zeros, sometimes combined with a customer number. Keep it unique per invoice. The OGM comes back in your bank statement, in CODA field 101 or in the CAMT element CdtrRefInf with the type BBA, and that is how reconciliation finds the invoice. Do not reuse a reference for a different invoice: two open invoices with the same OGM cannot be told apart. Try the CAMT viewer or CODA viewer to see these references on a real statement.
RF references
The ISO 11649 RF creditor reference is the international equivalent. It starts with RF, two check digits and up to 21 letters or digits, for example RF78 1234 5. It is accepted in SEPA transfers everywhere. Belgian banks accept both formats, but many Belgian customers expect to see an OGM. The tool can generate an RF reference from your own reference and check an RF reference you received.
Where this fits in the invoice-to-bank flow
- Create the OGM for each invoice and print it on the invoice and in the QR code or payment link. The payment QR code tool can embed it.
- The customer pays; the bank reports the payment with the same reference.
- Match the payment to the invoice by reference, using your accounting package or the invoice and bank reconciliation tool.
Frequently asked questions
How is the check digit of an OGM calculated?
Take the first 10 digits as a number, divide by 97 and use the remainder as the two check digits. If the remainder is 0, the check digits are 97.
What is the difference between OGM and VCS?
They are the same thing. OGM (gestructureerde mededeling) is the Dutch name and VCS (communication structurée) is the French name for the Belgian structured communication.
Can an OGM contain letters?
No. An OGM consists of 12 digits only. For references with letters use an RF creditor reference, which also works in SEPA transfers across Europe.
Should I reuse the same OGM for several invoices?
No. Use one unique reference per invoice, otherwise payments cannot be matched automatically.
Are the numbers I enter stored anywhere?
No. Generating and checking happens in your browser and nothing is sent or stored.