Blogs

By: Shelly Sipple, AAP, APRP, NCP, Senior Director, Certifications & Continuing Education

As a kid, and even as an adult, I enjoy playing board games. One of my favorites is The Game of LIFE. Over the years, there have been many different editions of this game from Junior to Extreme Reality and even SpongeBob SquarePants (proud owner of this one!). On March 23-24, I’ll be in Branson, Missouri with the latest version – ACH Game of LIFE: RDFI Edition. In the ACH Game of LIFE, RDFI players can make their own exciting choices as they move through the twists and turns of ACH processing. The object of the game is to limit your institution’s potential liability and risk.

The rules of the game are simple, comply with the ACH Rules and 31 CFR Part 210, and your institution wins! Choose a car and fit a people peg into the driver’s seat and don’t forget to buckle up! Move the car token around the gameboard from receiving ACH payments to posting, and experience unexpected surprises related to exceptions, such as NOCs, returns, reversals, reclamations and garnishments.

Processing ACH payments take time and could put your institution at risk if handled incorrectly. On your turn, decide to either post an entry or process it as an exception. If you decide to process an exception, know your options and timeframes.

Once everyone reaches the end of the game (day two), everyone will be able to:

• Compare and contrast your ACH processing obligations under the ACH Rules and
  31 CFR Part 210
• Explain an RDFI’s responsibilities related to ACH exception processing
• Define your institution’s liability related to commercial and federal government reclamations