Instructions

Automated Clearing House (ACH) Rules for ACH Originators

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ACH Facts
ACH Legal Framework
Your Responsibilities as an Originator
Consumer Credit Authorizations
Consumer Debit Authorizations
Corporate Authorizations
Changing Date or Amounts of Debits
Prenotifications (Prenotes)
Notice of Change
Returns
Reversals
Transaction Codes
Cutoff Times

To ensure compliance with current regulations, all ACH Originators must obtain a current copy of the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) Operating Rules (Rules) and Guidelines that is published annually. The Rules book may be purchased at nacha.org. Books are published and available from NACHA in January of each year.

This Quick Guide provides a summary of ACH facts and ACH Originator Responsibilities. It is not intended to be a replacement or substitution for the NACHA Rules and Guidelines. NACHA Rules are subject to change.

ACH Facts

  • An ACH Originator is any entity or person that creates an ACH transaction.
  • ACH entries are categorized as “consumer” or “corporate.”
  • ACH is capable of crediting or debiting checking, savings or general ledger accounts.
  • ACH entries are received by most financial institutions.
  • ACH is a batch system (not real time).
  • ACH entries are irrevocable once they have been sent for processing.
  • ACH stop payments no longer have an expiration date, as of March 2010.

ACH Legal Framework
You are required to abide by multiple rules and agreements including, but not limited to, the following when initiating ACH transactions:

  • NACHA Operating Rules (nacha.org)
  • Regulation E (for consumer entries)
  • UCC4 (for corporate credits)
  • Authorizations for employees, customers, vendors etc.

Your Responsibilities as an Originator

  • Obtain proper authorizations, dependent upon the transaction type, and retain authorizations for two years past revocation (See “Consumer Debit Authorizations”).
  • If requested by the Bank, provide a copy of the authorization. BankProv  may request to see your authorizations from time to time as part of an annual audit.
  • Send entries on the proper date.
  • Give appropriate notice to debtor if changing amount or date.
  • Cease subsequent entries when notified.
  • Make necessary changes to payee account information within six (6) banking days upon receipt of a Notice of Correction or before another entry is sent.
  • Protect the banking information received to originate transactions.

Consumer Credit Authorizations 

  • Use a direct deposit authorization form that collects employee or client account information. This form should allow the company to make credit and debit entries in the event a payroll or pension adjustment is necessary.
  • Obtain a voided check or deposit ticket from the employee (if possible).
  • The most common SEC code for direct deposit is PPD.

Consumer Debit Authorizations 

  • For consumers, an authorization to debit an account must be in writing or “similarly authenticated.”
  • The most common SEC code for consumer debits is PPD.

Corporate Authorizations 

  • For companies, there must be an agreement between the two parties. An authorization to debit an account must be in writing or “similarly authenticated”. While the NACHA Rules do not define an “agreement” to credit an account BankProv recommends that you have the company complete an authorization form.
  • The most common SEC codes for corporate transactions are CCD or CTX, depending upon addenda origination. It is used for debits and credits.

Changing Date or Amounts of Debits 

  • ACH Rules require you to notify your debtors of any changes in date or amount debited under the following circumstances:
    • Seven (7) calendar days’ notice for a change of date (consumer and corporate).
    • Ten (10) calendar days’ notice for a change in amount (consumer only).
  • Sending the notice via U.S. Mail is acceptable.

Prenotifications (Prenotes) 

  • Prenotes are zero-dollar entries that precede the first live entry. The purpose of a prenote is to verify account information.
  • Prenotes are optional for you to send. However, if sent, prenote rules must be followed and a prenote must precede the first live entry by at least six (6) banking days.
  • The Receiving Bank is not required to validate the name of the payee on the prenote, although many do; they are only required to check the account number.

Notice of Change 

  • When ACH information is incorrect, a Notification of Change (NOC) is sent by the Receiving Bank requesting that future entries contain correct information. ACH Rules require you to make the change within six (6) banking days of receiving the information from the Federal Reserve or before another entry is sent.
  • The Receiving Bank warrants that the information they provide to you is correct.

Returns

  • Returns must be processed by the Receiving Bank within 24 hours of settlement. Returns that are unauthorized beyond the 24 hours are the company’s liability and any disputes may have to be settled outside of the banking network. BankProv recommends that you view your account activity daily.
  • Any exception to the 24-hour rule is consumer unauthorized returns, which may be returned within 60 days of posting.
  • The use of consumer (PPD) or corporate (CCD) entry codes determines the applicable ACH return rules.
  • If the Receiving Bank receives a dispute claiming a debit was unauthorized, the Receiving Bank must get a signed Written Statement of Unauthorized Debit from the account holder. You may obtain a copy of that statement by requesting a copy through BankProv.
  • You may re-initiate a debit entry up to two times if you receive a return entry of “NSF or Uncollected Funds.” This gives the Originator a total of three attempts at debiting an account.
  • A “Stop Payment” return may be re-initiated only if you receive approval from the payee to re-send the item.
  • It is a violation of NACHA Rules to re-initiate the debit entry if a return is received for any other reason.

Reversals 

  • If a reversing entry must be made, please contact BankProv.
  • Reversals may only be made for the following three conditions:
    • wrong dollar amount
    • wrong account number
    • duplicate transaction
  • When initiating a reversal, the reversing entry must be for the full amount, must be sent within five (5) banking days of original entry and must be sent within 24 hours of discovering the error.
  • The Receiving Bank is under no obligation to post the reversing debit if it overdraws the payee’s account or if the payee’s account is closed.
  • A payee must be notified if a reversing entry debits his or her account and authorize the reversing debit.

 

Code Application Title Application Description Consumer/Business Debit/Credit
ARC Accounts Receivable Check Converted Checks received via the US mail or at a drop box location Consumer Accounts Only Single Debit Only
ARC Back Office Conversion Converted Checks received by merchant at the point- of-purchase or manned bill payment locations and processed during back-office operations. Consumer Accounts Only Single Debit Only
CCD Corporate Credit or Debit Transfer of funds between business accounts or to consolidate funds from several accounts of the same business Business Accounts Only Debit or Credit
CIE Customer Initiated Entry Credit entry imitated by an individual (usually through a bill payment service) used to pay some sort of
obligation.
Consumer or Business Accounts Only Credit Only
CTX Corporate Trade Exchange Payment or collection of obligations between separate businesses. Business Accounts Only Debit or Credit
DNE Death Notification Entry Notice initiated by an agency of the Federal government to advise an RDFI of the death of an
individual (includes addenda record details)
Consumer Accounts Only Credit only (non-dollar amount entry)
ENR Automated Enrollment Entry Entry submitted by Financial Institution to enroll client in direct deposit of Federal government benefit payment Consumer Accounts Only Credit only (non-dollar amount entry)
IAT International ACH Transaction Transaction involving a financial agency’s office that is not located in the territorial jurisdiction of the United States Consumer or Business Accounts Only Debit or Credit
POP Point-of-Purchase Entry Converted checks received by merchant at the point- of-sale Consumer Accounts Only Single debit only
POS Point-of-Sale Entry Entry initiated by individual at a merchant location using a merchant-issued card for payment of goods or
services
Consumer Accounts Only Single debit only
PPD Prearranged Payment and Deposit Entry Recurring entry for direct deposit of payroll, pension, etc., or for direct payment of recurring bills such as utilities, loans, insurance, etc. Consumer accounts only Single debit only
RCK Represented Check Entry Merchant collection of checks that had been returned as NSF or Uncollected Funds Consumer accounts only Single debit only
TEL Telephone Authorized Entry Single or recurring entry submitted pursuant to an oral authorization obtained solely via the telephone Consumer accounts only Debit only
WEB Internet Authorized Entry Entry submitted pursuant to an authorization obtained solely via the Internet or a wireless network Consumer accounts only Debit or Credit
XCK Destroyed Check Entry Replacement entry for check that is lost or destroyed, or for check image that is unreadable or cannot be processed Consumer or Business accounts Single debit only

Please check with BankProv for which SEC codes are currently available for use.

 

Transaction Codes
Section 2

Transaction Codes Return/NOC Normal Forward Entry Prenote
Checking Account Credit 21 22 23
Checking Account Debit 26 27 28
Savings Account Credit 31 32 33
Savings Account Debit 36 37 38
FI General Credit 41 42 43
FI General Ledger Debit 46 47 48
Loan Account Credit 51 52 53

 

Notification of Change (NOC) Codes
Section 3

Change Code Field(s) Needing Correction
C01 Account Number
C02 Routing/Transit Number
C03 Account Number and Routing/Transit Number
C05 Transaction Code
C06 Account Number and Transaction Code
C07 Account Number AND Routing/Transit Number AND Transaction Code

 

Return Entry Codes
Section 4

Return Code Reason/Description Available SEC Codes Return Deadlines
R01 Insufficient Funds – Available balance is not sufficient to cover the dollar amount of the debit entry ALL 24 HOURS
R02 Account Closed – A previously open account is now closed ALL 24 HOURS
R03 No Account/Unable to Locate – The account number does not correspond to the individual identified in the entry or a valid account ALL 24 HOURS
R04 Invalid Account Number – The account number fails the check digit validation or may contain an incorrect number of digits ALL 24 HOURS
R05 Unauthorized Debit to Consumer Account using Corporate SEC Code – A business (corporate) debit entry was transmitted to a client’s
consumer account and the client had not authorized the entry
CCD, CTX 60 Days – Written Statement of Unauthorized ACH Debit
R06 Returned per ODFI’s Request – The ODFI has requested that the RDFI return the entry ALL Not applicable
R07 Authorization Revoked – Client who previously authorized an entry has revoked authorization with the Originator PPD, TEL, WEB 60 Days – Written Statement of Unauthorized Debit
R08 Payment Stopped – Client had previously requested s stop payment of a single or recurring entry ALL 24 HOURS
R09 Uncollected Funds – Available balance is sufficient, but collected balance is not sufficient to cover the entry ALL 24 HOURS
R10 Client advises not authorized, notice not provided, improper source document, or amount of entry not accurately obtained from source
document
ARC, BOC, POP, PPD,TEL,WEB 60 Days – Written Statement of Unauthorized Debit
R14 Representative Payee Deceased – Representative payee is deceased or unable to continue in that capacity, beneficiary is not deceased ALL EXCEPT CCD & CTX 24 HOURS
R15 Beneficiary or Account Holder Deceased ALL EXCEPT CCD & CTX 24 HOURS
R16 Account Frozen – Access to account is restricted due to specific action taken by the RDFI or by legal action ALL 24 HOURS
R20 Non-Transaction Account – Policies or regulations 9such as Regulation
D) prohibit or limit activity to the account indicated
ALL 24 HOURS
R29 Corporate Entry Unauthorized – RDFI has been notified by business account holder that a specific transaction is unauthorized CCD & CTX 24 HOURS
R31 Permissible Return Entry–ODFI agrees to accept a return of an unauthorized corporate entry after the 24-hourdeadline CCD & CTX 24 HOURS
R37 Source Document Presented for Payment– Check used for an ARC, BOC, or POP entry has also been presented for payment ARC, BOC, POP 60 Days – Written Statement of Unauthorized Debit
R38 Stop Payment on Source Document – A Stop Payment has been placed on a check used for an ARC entry ARC, BOC 60 Days
R39 Improper Source Document Presented for Payment – RDFI determines that the source document (check) used for an ARC, BOC, or POP entry is not eligible for conversion – or the check has already been paid as a
normal check posting
ARC, BOC, POP 24 HOURS

 

 


 

Cutoff Times

Domestic wires and ACH transactions must be received by the Bank by the following times in order to be posted same day. Any Wire and ACH transactions after these times will go out/post to accounts the next business day.

Online Banking Users

Same Day ACH Standard ACH Wires
2:00pm ET 5:00pm ET 5:00pm ET

 

API and File Transmission Users 

Same Day ACH Standard ACH Wires
9:45am ET 7:15pm ET 5:00pm ET
1:45pm ET
4:00pm ET

 


Wire & ACH Fraud

ACH transaction and wire transfer security is critical. The best defense against potential fraud is to implement a strong information security program.

Download our Wire & ACH Fraud Prevention Tips