How we check our information
Money topics need to be right. This is how we check what we publish.
Our rule
Every fact about ACH rules, return codes, NOC codes and the NACHA file format is checked against published sources before it goes on the site. If we cannot confirm something, we leave it out and say so.
What we left out
Some things could not be confirmed from an official source, so they are not on this site: NOC codes C10, C11 and C12 (we found them only on vendor lists), transfer limits at the largest retail banks, typical bank hold times, and the details of state wage payment laws.
The sources we use
We look for the most direct source first.
- Nacha. Nacha writes the ACH rules. We use its public rule pages, its developer guide and the rule supplements it publishes.
- US government sources. The Treasury's Green Book, the Federal Reserve's FedACH documents, Regulation E and its official interpretation from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Code of Federal Regulations.
- Bank and payments association guides. Reference guides from regional payments associations and banks, which reproduce the Nacha code tables for their customers.
- Open-source software, as a cross-check only. For the file format we compare our work with the moov-io ACH library and its test files.
A limit you should know about
The full Nacha Operating Rules are sold by Nacha and are not free to read. We do not copy from them. Where the rule text is not public, we rely on Nacha's own public pages and on at least two independent sources that agree. Each code page lists the sources it was checked against.
Where sources disagree, we follow Nacha's wording and mention the difference on the page.
How each kind of page is checked
- Return codes and NOC codes. Each code is confirmed by at least two sources: its title, who sends it, the time frame and whether a payment can be sent again.
- Forms. Each sentence of an authorization is tied to the rule it is based on. The wording is plain English, written by us. The form pages show which rule each part comes from. See the table on the ACH authorization form page.
- File tools. Field positions are taken from Nacha's developer guide and checked against bank specifications and real test files. The tools are tested on valid and broken sample files.
- Guides. Figures that change, such as limits, fees and deadlines, are checked on the date shown and written with that date.
How often we review
Every fact page shows a "Last reviewed" date. We review pages at least once a year, and sooner when Nacha announces a rule change that affects them. When a reader reports a mistake and we fix it, the page's "Last reviewed" date changes.
Pages reviewed most recently
- ACH authorization form,
- ACH fees,
- ACH form,
- ACH fraud prevention,
- ACH information form,
- ACH number and ACH account,
- ACH on a bank statement,
- ACH return codes,
- ACH trace number lookup,
- ACH vs check,
Report an error
If something looks wrong or out of date, email [email protected]. Tell us the page and, if you can, the source that shows the correct information. We check every report.
What we cannot do
We give general information. We cannot give legal or financial advice, and we cannot look up or trace a payment. For a decision about your own business, check with your bank.