Understanding ACH Tables

Related Topics

The ACH tables on the Payroll Posting Summary window, ACH Processing Options window, and ACH Processing Rules window ensure the correct posting of ACH items and reduce the number of rejected batches. The rules for processing ACH items are located in the internal tables and separately maintained by the ACH coordinator.

Your credit union maintains the Payroll Posting Summary window and ACH Processing Options window. Portico maintains the ACH Processing Rules window.

The ACH table is an internal table or header that tells the system how your credit union processes ACH items. Portico complies with the rules set by NACHA that determine all entry data transmitted through ACH that determine ACH file specifications.

Each ACH table contains the following information:

  • OFI routing and transit number/ABA number
  • Company ID
  • Member ID location, Bank account number or Individual ID, to check for member's identifying number
  • Member ID field to match the transmitted ACH identifying information: member number, debit ID, SSN, 2nd ID, 3rd ID, ATM ID, or share draft ID
  • Offsetting general ledger number
  • Items specified as EFT
  • Transactions generating monthly statement
  • ACH overdraft protection option
  • Associated payroll numbers, if applicable
  • Count debit items for assessing fees (Shares – Activity tab)
  • Duplicate batch reject option

The following identifiers are required information for ACH tables(s):

  • Credit union routing and transit number
  • OFI number (zeros are default table)
  • Company ID (zeros are default and semi-default table)

Types of ACH Tables

Portico creates several types of ACH tables for credit unions. Your credit union may have all types of tables including an unlimited number of each. The types of tables are:

  • Default table (only one per routing and transit number)
  • Semi-Default table
  • Specific table
  • Specific table with Post By Company Name
  • Post By Company Name Only Table
  • Origination table

If an ACH table is not set up and you try to process ACH, you will receive rejection code E48 – No ACH Processing Rules. A semi-default table is rarely used today. Although, some credit unions still have semi-default tables setup.

Once your credit union establishes your ACH table(s), the system processes the ACH items on a continuing basis. The system tries three different times to match an ACH batch to your ACH table in order to process the ACH items. First, the system looks at the specific table. If a match is not found, the system looks for a semi-default table. If a match is still not found, the system looks for the default table.

If matching by OFI, company ID, company name, or batch description, be sure that any alpha characters are in all capital letters on the incoming ACH file.

Default Table

The default table allows the system to automatically process any new ACH when an ACH table has not been set up for a specific Originating Financial Institution (OFI) or company ID (COID). All ACH batches that do not meet the criteria in another table will try to post using the default table. Portico recommends that you use a default table to post the majority of your credit union's ACH items; however, Portico does not recommend that you assign a payroll number to a default table.

In the default table, Portico uses your routing and transit number. The OFI number and company ID will contain zeros (0). The following is an example of a default table:

Credit Union R/T field: 12345678
Originating Financial Institution field: 00000000
Company ID field: 0000000000

Using the default table eliminates the task of setting up several tables. With the default table, it does not matter which OFI the company uses. Sponsor companies work with their bank, not the Federal Reserve Bank.

Specific Table

The specific table allows for a separate set of ACH processing rules to be set up for each company ID and OFI. The specific table is the most commonly used when a company ID requires a specific posting criteria such as payroll number. The numbers must be a perfect match. If there is a match on routing and transit number of the credit union, OFI number, and company ID on the incoming ACH file, Portico will use a specific table instead of an existing Post By Company Name Only table.

Your credit union can also use the specific table when associating a company ID with a payroll number because this table allows each OFI and its company to post through its own table. In the specific table, Portico uses the routing and transit number of the credit union, the OFI number, and company ID. The following is an example of a specific table:

Credit Union R/T field: 12345677
Originating Financial Institution field: 12345678
Company ID field: 1234567908

Your credit union would use the company specific table in the following example:

If... OFI A sends company 1 ACH by member number identification and company 2 ACH by Social Security number. OFI B sends company 3 ACH by share draft ID and company 4 by secondary ID.

Then... Two separate ACH tables are needed for each OFI because four companies are sending different member ID numbers. You also can post the ACH by company name by creating a table with the specific company name. The company name must be exactly the same as the ACH company name in the ACH record.

Specific Table with Post by Company Name

The specific table with Post by Company Name allows for a separate set of ACH processing rules to be set up for each company ID, company name and OFI. If there is a match on the company name, routing and transit number of the credit union, OFI number, and company ID on the incoming ACH file, Portico will use a specific table with Post by Company Name instead of an existing specific table, in which only the routing and transit number of the credit union, the OFI number, and company ID match.

In the specific table with Post by Company Name, Portico uses the routing and transit number of the credit union, the OFI number, company ID, and company name. The following is an example of a specific table:

Credit Union R/T field: 12345678
Originating Financial Institution field: 12345678
Company ID field: 1234567809
Company Name field: ABC COMPANY
Post Items Based on field: Company Name

Your credit union would use the company specific table in the following example:

If... OFI A sends company 1 ACH by member number identification and company 2 ACH by Social Security number. OFI B sends company 3 ACH by share draft ID and company 4 by secondary ID.

Then... Two separate ACH tables are needed for each OFI because four companies are sending different member ID numbers. You also can post the ACH by company name by creating a table with the specific company name. The company name must be exactly the same as the ACH company name in the ACH record.

Portico requires that any alpha characters in the company name be in all capital letters on the incoming ACH file.

Semi-Default Table

The semi-default table allows ACH items to post according to the OFI number specified on the ACH table. Any company ID without a specific OFI will try to post, regardless of the company ID used. A semi-default table is rarely used since most processing can be handled through a specific or default table.

In the semi-default table, Portico uses the routing and transit number of the credit union and the number of the OFI. The company ID will contain zeros.

Credit Union R/T field: 12345678
Originating Financial Institution field: 12345678
Company ID field: 0000000000

Your credit union would use the semi-default table in the following example:

If... OFI A, company ID 567, sends ACH by member number. OFI A, company ID 123, sends ACH by member number.

Then... The OFI is the same but the company IDs are different. Both companies use the same processing rules via the semi-default table.

Post By Company Name Only Table

The post by company name only table allows ACH items to post according to your credit union's routing and transit number and the company name as specified on the ACH table. If the Post by Company Name check box is selected on the Credit Union Profile – ACH/Payroll tab, Portico will attempt to post ACH items through the post by company name only table first. The company name must exactly match the Company Name field on the ACH Processing Rules window. If an item cannot be matched by company name through the post by company name only table, it will pass to the specific ACH table, then the semi-default table, and the default table.

In the post by company name only table, Portico uses the routing and transit number of the credit union and the company name. The Post Items Based on field must be Company Name on the ACH Processing Rules window and the origination financial institution number and the company ID will contain zeros.

Credit Union R/T field: 12345678
Originating Financial Institution field: 00000000
Company ID field: 0000000000
Company Name field: ABC COMPANY
Post Items Based on field: Company Name

Portico requires that any alpha characters in the company name be in all capital letters on the incoming ACH file.

Post ACH by Batch Description Table

The post by batch description table allows ACH items to post according to your credit union's routing and transit number and the batch description as specified on the ACH table. If the Post by Batch Description check box is selected on the Credit Union Profile – ACH/Payroll tab, Portico will attempt to post ACH items through the post by batch description table first. The batch description must exactly match the Company Name field on the ACH Processing Rules window. If an item cannot be matched by batch description through the post by batch description table, it will pass to the post by company name only table if the Post by Company Name check box is selected on the Credit Union Profile – ACH/Payroll tab, then the specific ACH table, the semi-default table, and the default table.

In the post by batch description table, Portico uses the routing and transit number of the credit union and the batch description from the ACH transmission. The Post Items Based on field must be Batch Description on the ACH Processing Rules window and the origination financial institution number and the company ID will contain zeros.

Credit Union R/T field: 12345678
Originating Financial Institution field: 00000000
Company ID field: 0000000000
Company Name field: Batch Description from ACH Transmission
Post Items Based on field: Batch Description

Portico requires that any alpha characters in the batch description be in all capital letters on the incoming ACH file.