Blogs - EPCOR Knowledge Community

Are You Making These Common Compliance Mistakes? Top ACH Violations and How to Avoid Them

By Brandie Thacker

EPCOR is in a unique position to give you a glimpse into top ACH compliance issues given the volume of ACH audits and risk assessments we conduct each year, coupled with our direct membership with Nacha. Not only can we see where our members might be stumbling, but Nacha also shares aggregate data and themes with us to help us help you improve your ACH practices. Upon reviewing the 2025 data, we have identified the most problematic issues that have resulted in enforcement actions and fines. The message is clear: non-compliance has a cost, and that cost is rising to deter poor practices. Here are the top compliance hotspots your institution needs to be watching. ...

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The Risks of Crypto ATMs

By Trevor Witchey

Crypto ATMs have moved from a niche curiosity to a more mainstream presence since the first machine was installed in a Vancouver coffee shop in 2013 . Over time, they’ve become more widely available, particularly in the United States, which now hosts a large share of these machines. While the technology itself isn’t new, the rapid expansion and increased use of crypto ATMs in recent years have drawn greater attention — especially as fraudsters increasingly exploit these machines for scams. How does a crypto ATM work? A crypto ATM is designed to convert physical cash (or sometimes a debit card transaction) into cryptocurrency or vice ...

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Meet Ryan Chilton

By Hoot-E

We are thrilled to announce a new addition to our flock! @Ryan Chilton has joined EPCOR as our Controller in the Finance Department. Ryan lives in Annapolis, MO, and has 17 years of experience in accounting and finance roles across multiple industries, including six years with a financial institution. Ryan also holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Missouri State University. He shared, “I’m excited to learn about the payments world and take on a leadership role within the finance team.” Regarding his new position, Ryan says, “I’m most looking forward to meeting all my new coworkers and contributing to EPCOR’s mission. I’m eager to dive into payments ...

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Congrats to our 62 New AAPs! 🥳

By Hoot-E

We recently welcomed 62 new Accredited ACH Professionals (AAP) into the EPCOR family. Congratulations to the following: Maritza Aguilar, AAP of Equity Bank Lindsey Albright, AAP of Banterra Bank Jodi Bowers, AAP of TBO Bank Brad Bristow, AAP of Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Emily Campbell, AAP of FCB Banks Angelique Cartwright, AAP of Access Bank Gary Claybrook, AAP, NCP of Field and Main Elliott Coleman, AAP of Community Financial Services Bank Jessica Colley, AAP of First National Bank & Trust Lauren Craig, AAP of Arkansas Federal Credit Union Brittani Damen, AAP of Grand Savings Bank Ryan DeMayo, AAP ...

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My Vision for 2026? It’s All About Connection.

By Brandie Thacker

Happy New Year, Everyone! Every January, I get that fresh-start feeling. You know the one—a mix of excitement for what’s ahead and a frantic search for where I last put my coffee. After 18 years with this amazing association, that feeling never gets old. As I was thinking about my goals for 2026, one idea kept coming back to me: thoughtful connection. This year, my focus is all about meeting you—our members—exactly where you are, whether that’s geographically, strategically or somewhere in between. So, What Does That Look Like? First, EPCOR is doubling down on the support and education you’ve told us you need. Fraud is a topic that keeps ...

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Ask Hoot-E: Building Stronger ODFI Risk Programs

By Hoot-E

Special thanks to @Luke Benning , AAP, Manager, Audit Services for helping me write this blog! With 2026 before us, the spirit of self-improvement is in the air. Beyond personal goals like learning a new language or running a marathon, now is the perfect time to set a strategic resolution for your organization, such as strengthening your ODFI Risk Management program. Here’s a guide to essential practices for fostering strong Originator partnerships and achieving lasting results. Strengthening the Core of ACH: The ...

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National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

By Keldon Bowling

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It’s a key time for us all to educate ourselves about human trafficking and, crucially, to learn to spot the signs of trafficking. It is also a time for us take these messages to our workplaces, our schools, our representatives and everywhere else. Human Trafficking: What You Should Know Human trafficking is one of the world’s most devastating and hidden crimes. Often referred to as modern-day slavery, it involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to exploit people for labor or sex. And yes, it happens not just overseas but in neighborhoods ...

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Federal Reserve’s RFI on the Future of the Federal Reserve Banks’ Check Services

By Shelly Sipple

On December 9, 2025, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather feedback on the future of the Reserve Banks’ check services. The RFI seeks input on two key areas: (1) Potential actions regarding the Reserve Banks’ check operations and (2) the broader continued use of checks. We would appreciate your feedback on this important issue, which you can share by completing a 23-question survey by January 21. Your responses will help shape our comment letter, which we will submit to the Federal Reserve Board on behalf of our membership. Before taking the survey, you may want to review the ...

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Wishing Christine Harris a Happy Retirement! 🎉

By Stephanie Mareski

I’ve got some bittersweet news to share, the amazing Christine Harris, AAP, APRP, NCP, Senior Manager, Member Support is retiring from EPCOR on December 31, 2025, after 15 incredible years with us! Christine has been a huge part of EPCOR’s success, always going above and beyond to support our members. Her knowledge and expertise have been a huge asset, and we’re going to greatly miss her. I know many of you have your own Christine stories—maybe she helped you untangle a tricky Rules question, gave you ACH origination advice or walked you through an ACH raw file like it was a stroll in the park. If you’d like to share ...

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Join us in Welcoming our New Members! 🥳

By Hoot-E

We have welcomed an additional five new member organizations into the EPCOR family! Please join us in welcoming the following: Erie Community Federal Credit Union in Sandusky, OH Joplin Metro Credit Union in Joplin, MO Legends West Bank in Nlewellen , NE PayRecs in St. Louis, MO Ramp Business Corp in New York, NY

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Meet Ashley Franks

By Hoot-E

We’re excited to announce that @Ashley Franks has joined our flock! Ashley lives in Nixa, MO, just outside of Springfield. She comes to EPCOR with a background in franchise development, where she began in lead qualification and worked her way up to Director of Franchise Development. While payments is a new industry for her, Ashley is eager to bring her expertise in process development to the team. Regarding her new role at EPCOR, Ashley shares, “I’m thrilled to be learning a new industry and contributing to a team that values collaboration, innovation and exceptional member service.” What drew Ashley to EPCOR was the culture, which ...

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Leveraging Technology to Bring the Personal Touch Back to Your Client Payment Portfolio

By Brandie Thacker

The world of banking is changing at lightning speed, especially when it comes to how our clients pay for transactions. Gone are the days when a simple checking account and a debit card were enough. Today's clients expect seamless, instant and personalized experiences, all while feeling that their financial institution understands their individual needs. For banking staff, this means modernizing our approach to client payments, not by sacrificing the personal touch, but by enhancing it with cutting-edge technology. The pandemic supercharged the shift to digital-first behaviors and innovative Fintechs have introduced new ways to pay, like real-time ...

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Navigating the Next Wave of Payments Changes

By Emily Nelson

As we look ahead to 2026, it’s clear that while 2025 was relatively stable in terms of rule changes, a flurry of updates and new regulations is on the horizon. Organizations in the payments space will not only need to navigate the changes of the upcoming year but also prepare for the transformations expected in 2027 and 2028. Understanding these changes is crucial, as they will present opportunities for enhanced efficiencies and require a commitment to education and training. One of the most significant announcements from the Federal Reserve this year was the official expansion of operating days for two major payment services: the Fedwire ® Funds Service ...

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When Payments Don’t Follow the Pattern

By Trevor Witchey

According to IBM , anomaly detection is the “identification of observations, events or data points that deviate from what is usual, standard or expected, making them inconsistent with the rest of a data set.” In the payments world, anomaly detection helps financial institutions and ACH or wire Originators identify activity that is unusual compared to historical ACH or wire transfer patterns. Most of your organization’s transactions are likely recurring with the same employees, vendors, utilities, accounts payable/receivable recipients or lenders. Anything that deviates from this baseline stands out as atypical and may warrant ...

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The Machines Are Rising in Payments

By James Kallergis

If you’ve ever watched movies like The Terminator , you know the fear — artificial intelligence (AI) taking over, humans sidelined…even in the payments space. Using AI in the industry is a double-edged sword. It’s hard not to see the benefits of AI as a tool. It can spot fraud faster than any human, help financial institutions personalize products and even improve client experience. But there’s a flip side: AI can also “hallucinate,” producing results that look correct, but are actually wrong. And in compliance, “almost right” can still mean noncompliant. Potential Benefits AI offers several advantages in the ACH space. It can answer basic ACH ...

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EPCOR Members Featured on Most Powerful Women in Banking List

By Hoot-E

The following article originally appeared on October 7, 2025, on AmericanBanker.com. Financial institutions went into 2024 already juggling seismic change. Throughout the year and into 2025, executives were forced to prioritize trade-offs between growth, innovation-fueled transformation and safety in their strategic decision-making, capital allocation and appetite for risk. Several economic and market factors directly influenced how payments professionals framed their growth strategy. Higher-for-longer interest rates drove up net interest income but raised deposit costs and pressured borrowers, making loan growth a balancing act. Consumer ...

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Ask Hoot-E: Tips for a Fraud-Free Holiday

By Hoot-E

Special thanks to @Trevor Witchey , AAP, APRP, NCP, Senior Director, Payments Education for helping me write this blog! It’s no surprise fraudsters made Santa’s naughty list. The holiday shopping rush means increased transactions, which gives them the perfect chance to hide scams, steal information and disguise fraudulent activity. Your account holders are at greater risk this season as they use their debit cards more frequently, shop online through unsecured websites and send money ...

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Third-Party Sender Audits: What Should ODFIs Be Doing?

By Matthew Wade

Nacha issued ACH Operations Bulletin #3-2025 on September 11 th announcing that, beginning in October 2025, proof of audit requests will move to an automated process and will be sent directly to the ODFI, which must provide the requested documentation. This change will make requests more efficient and secure while allowing Nacha to increase the total number of audit requests, including those for Third-Party Senders. With the first batch of automated requests having gone out recently, now is a great time for our financial institution members to review their processes for verifying Third-Party Sender ACH Audit compliance. Many of our ...

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Paymentspalooza Rocks the Payments World! 🎶

By Hoot-E

EPCOR Payments Conference – Fall 2025 hit all the right notes, bringing together nearly 300 payments professionals and industry experts for three days of high-energy education, networking and insights into the latest trends shaping the payments landscape. From preconference workshops to deep-dive panels and live demonstrations, our members with actionable strategies, amplified skills and fresh inspiration. Preconference Workshops Set the Stage Paymentspalooza kicked off with two preconference workshops. ACH Reclamations and Garnishments , led by Shelly Sipple, ...

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