Technical Standards and Formats Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is the correct sequence of records in an ACH file?
1 - File Header
5 - Batch Header
6 - Entry Detail
7 - Addenda
8 - Batch Control
9 - File Control
How many characters are in each ACH record?
94 characters
What is the minimum number of records in an ACH file?
5 records
What is a “block” in an ACH file?
A group of 10 records; if the file doesn’t complete a block, filler records of 9s are added.
How are alphabetic fields formatted in ACH files?
left-justified, space-filled
How are numeric fields formatted in ACH files?
right-justified, zero-filled
What characters are allowed in ACH fields?
0-9, A-Z, a-z, space, and specific special characters
Which fields require uppercase letters?
- SEC Code
- File ID Modifier
- Change Code
- Return Reason Code
- Entry Descriptions like “RETRY PYMT”
What does the File Header Record (1) contain?
Physical file characteristics, Immediate Origin/Destination, date/time
What does the File Control Record (9) contain?
Totals for dollar amounts, entries, hash, blocks, and batches
What does the Batch Header Record (5) identify?
Originator, purpose of entries, ODFI routing, effective date
What does the Entry Detail Record (6) include?
Account number, dollar amount, transaction code, trace number
What determines the number of Addenda Records?
The Standard Entry Class (SEC) Code
Which SEC codes require mandatory addenda?
COR, DNE, ENR, POS, SHR, MTE, TRX, IAT, Returns
What is the maximum number of addenda records for CTX entries?
9,999
How many mandatory addenda records are required for IAT entries?
7
What is the purpose of the IAT “Reason for Payment”?
To comply with OFAC requirements using predefined codes like ANN, DEP, REM, etc.
What causes automatic file rejection?
Invalid record type, unreadable file, missing mandatory fields, duplicate file
What causes automatic batch rejection?
Invalid characters, incorrect routing number, invalid SEC code, trace number errors
What causes entry detail rejection?
Invalid RDFI routing, incorrect effective date, addenda errors, trace number issues
What is the Entry Hash in an ACH file?
It is the total of the RDFI routing numbers from the entries, truncated from the left if it exceeds 10 digits.
What does a Transaction Code in an Entry Detail Record indicate?
Whether the entry is a debit or credit and the type of account
(e.g., DDA, savings, loan, GL).
What is the difference between the Addenda Record Indicator and the Addenda Type Code?
The Indicator shows if an Addenda Record exists; the Type Code defines the format and purpose of the addenda.
