Blogs

Nacha Fines Explained: What Every ACH Participant Needs to Know

By Liz Cone posted 7 days ago
For financial institutions, Third-Party Service Providers (TPSPs) and Third-Party Senders (TPSs), compliance with the ACH Rules is about more than just avoiding penalties. It is about preserving the security, integrity and trust of the ACH Network. As transaction volumes continue to rise and fraud schemes become more sophisticated, Nacha’s National System of Fines remains a critical enforcement mechanism for maintaining the ACH Network's strength and reliability. Let’s explore how Nacha’s official classes of violations work, review common compliance pitfalls and discuss actionable steps your organization can take to maintain compliance. ...

From the Heart of the EPCOR Membership to Capitol Hill

By Brian Dao posted 9 days ago
Many people experience federal legislation from a distance through headlines, TV sound bites or social media summaries that rarely capture the nuance of policymaking. But each year, Nacha’s Government Relations Advisory Group (GRAG) visit to Capitol Hill offers a very different perspective. Sitting down with Congressional staff and committee members reveals how active, engaged and pragmatic these policymakers are, particularly when it comes to improving the U.S. payments system. Representing the EPCOR membership, I was able to bring real-world insights to the conversation, helping ensure the voices of our members navigating frontline challenges were heard clearly ...

FREE Member Resource: RDC User Guide for Merchants

By Raven Smith posted 17 days ago
While faster and instant payments continue to pick up speed (see what I did there?) throughout the industry, those of us who have worked at community financial institutions know that many account holders still prefer the tried-and-true methods of managing their finances. Since the Check 21 Act in 2001, Remote Deposit Capture (RDC) has enabled businesses to deposit checks from the convenience of their offices. More than two decades later, RDC remains an integral part of how many commercial clients move funds. Unfortunately, as payment technology continues to evolve, so does fraud. While RDC may not receive the same level of industry attention as newer ...

Ask Hoot-E: Preparing for the Next Fedwire® Funds Service ISO 20022 Update

By Hoot-E posted 18 days ago
Special thanks to @Trevor Witchey , AAP, APRP, NCP, Director, Payments Education for helping me write this blog! On November 16 th , the Federal Reserve Financial Services Fedwire ® Funds Service will implement additional ISO 20022 enhancements designed to improve wire message data quality and strengthen interoperability with other systems that use the ISO 20022 format. One of the most significant changes will be the removal of the fully unstructured postal address option, which currently allows three ...

The Riches in the Niches: Why SMB Verticalization is the Future of Community Treasury Management

By Hoot-E posted 18 days ago
Guest article by Sarah Lenox, Chief Growth Officer, DeNovo Treasury For decades, the community banking model was built on the foundation of being a generalist. The value proposition was simple: we are local, we know your name and we support the entire community. While this approach built the bedrock of the American financial system, the rise of digital-first competitors and "Big Four" enterprise dominance has rendered the generalist model increasingly vulnerable. In the modern treasury management landscape, the one-size-fits-all approach is rapidly becoming a one-size-fits-none ...

Why Risk and Compliance Professionals Need More Than Information Right Now

By Emily Nelson posted 18 days ago
If you've worked in payments for any length of time, you've probably noticed something: the pace of change isn't slowing down. New payment channels emerge. Fraud tactics evolve. Regulatory expectations shift. Cybersecurity threats become more sophisticated. At the same time, financial institutions are expected to move faster, serve clients better and maintain strong controls around every payment they process. It's a lot, and it’s one of the many reasons we created the Virtual Risk & Compliance Workshop , happening July 20-21. Over the years, I've had countless conversations with payments professionals who all say some version of the same ...

Congratulations New NCPs! 🎉

By Hoot-E posted 06-23-2026
We’re proud to recognize 20 payments professionals who recently passed the National Check Professional (NCP) exam after participating in our NCP Prep Program ! Congratulations to the following: Lynette Borntrager, NCP, Millennium Corporate CU Olya Baker, AAP, NCP, Fidelity Bank Darby Bowles, NCP, American Heritage Bank Megan Custer, NCP, STAR Financial Bank Amanda Diekemper, AAP, NCP, Nebraska Bank Cassidy Griffith, NCP, The Vinton County National Bank Jennifer Hanthorn, NCP, Fountain Trust Company Michelle Hope, NCP, Field and Main Bank Sandra Lumsden, NCP, WesBanco Bank Madeline McCain, NCP, The Savings ...

Recalculating the Dishonored Return Route

By Jess Bee posted 06-16-2026
June has arrived, bringing with it rising temperatures and the excitement of long-awaited family road trips. But as any traveler knows, a single missed turn can lead to that familiar, urgent prompt: “Recalculating!” In the world of ACH, a standard Return is usually a straightforward journey. However, a dishonored Return is an unexpected detour that can send an operations team into a maze of complex deadlines and strict requirements. Without a clear map, a simple "Field Error" can quickly become a roadblock. Before heading out on your summer vacation, let’s update your internal GPS and ensure your financial institution stays on the right path, meets every ...

The Language of Liquidity: How Community Banks and Credit Unions Can Deepen Commercial Ties with ISO 20022

By Hoot-E posted 06-16-2026
Guest article b y Brian Weide, Director of Treasury Management, DeNovo Treasury For decades, the relationship between a community bank or credit union and its commercial clients has been defined by the movement of money. The financial institution provided the pipes, and the client sent the flow. In this traditional model, the payment itself was dumb. It consisted of a dollar amount, a sender, a receiver and perhaps a 16-character memo field that was often truncated or lost in transit. As we enter the era of instant payments and the global adoption of the ISO 20022 messaging ...

Meet Christine Higgins

By Hoot-E posted 06-15-2026
We’re excited to announce that @Christine Higgins has joined our flock as our new Accounting Associate! Christine lives in Blue Springs, MO, and brings a diverse professional background spanning sales, marketing, product buying and accounting. She has worn many hats throughout her career, and we’re so excited that she’s brought that well-rounded experience into the payments industry with EPCOR. What drew her to EPCOR was the opportunity to work remotely and our organization’s focus on collaboration and support. However, she says, “I’m most excited about the work culture and team environment.” On a personal note, ...

WELCOME TO OUR 15 NEW MEMBERS! 🎉

By Hoot-E posted 06-01-2026
We have welcomed an additional 15 new members into the EPCOR family! Please join us in welcoming the following: Caro Federal Credit Union in Columbia, SC Citizens Bank of Edinburg in Edinburg, IL Dritsas Groom McCormick LLP in Fresno, CA Erebor Bank in Columbus, OH Faith Community United CU in Cleveland, OH First State Bank in Anadarko, OK Guardian Savings Bank in West Chester, OH J Tenbrink & Associates in Olathe, KS Midwest Bank in Pierce, NE NAE Federal Credit Union in Chesapeake, VA North Salem State Bank in North Salem, IN ...

Start Your Engines: The AFPP Certification Is Your Fast Track to Payments Prestige

By Shelly Sipple posted 05-29-2026
A Grand Prix isn’t just a race; it’s where Formula 1 drivers go to prove themselves. Only the most prepared drivers, teams and F1 cars earn a spot on the grid. The world of faster payments is no different. As real-time payments accelerate across the industry, the Accredited Faster Payments Professional (AFPP) certification has become the credential that separates spectators from leaders. If you’re serious about your future in payments, now might be the right time to buckle in, hit the throttle and prepare for the most important race of your career. What Is the AFPP Certification? The AFPP certification is the industry’s premier credential for ...

Ask Hoot-E: Phase 2 of the ACH Fraud Monitoring Rules is Effective June 19

By Hoot-E posted 05-29-2026
Special thanks to @Trevor Witchey , AAP, APRP, NCP, Director, Payments Education for helping me write this blog! On June 19, the second phase of the new ACH fraud monitoring requirements will take effect, marking a significant shift in how financial institutions, Originators, Third-Party Service Providers (TPSPs), Third-Party Senders (TPSs) and ODFIs approach fraud risk in the ACH Network. These changes reflect a continued effort by Nacha to strengthen fraud prevention controls across the payment lifecycle, ...

Elder Abuse Awareness Month: Protecting Financial Independence

By Hoot-E posted 05-29-2026
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to a growing and often overlooked issue: elder financial exploitation. As the U.S. population continues to age, older adults are increasingly being targeted for scams, manipulation and misuse of funds, threatening both their financial security and independence. While many think of strangers behind phishing emails or phone calls, elder financial abuse often comes from someone closer to home. Family members, caregivers or trusted acquaintances may misuse access or influence over time, making these situations especially difficult to detect. What Is Elder Financial Exploitation? Elder ...

Payments Reporting That Drives Better Board Conversations

By Jennifer Kline posted 05-18-2026
Whether a financial institution is a small community credit union or a large, complex bank, the Board of Directors and senior management have a fundamental responsibility to oversee safety, soundness and strategic direction. Traditionally, board reporting has focused on financial conditions such as capital levels, loan growth, loan-to-deposit ratios and earnings performance. While these remain essential, they no longer tell the full story of an institution’s risk profile or future competitiveness. Electronic payments have become central to how clients move money and how financial institutions manage operational, credit, compliance ...

New Voices, Shared Vision: Introducing New EPCOR Board Members and Chairman

By Hoot-E posted 05-18-2026
As the payments industry continues to evolve rapidly, we are proud to welcome new voices and perspectives to guide EPCOR and our members into the next chapter! With the addition of our new Board members Joshua Reams, Raksha Bhola, AAP and Heather Auchtung, along with Board Chair Tristan Thompson, AFPP, PMP, we strive to continue strengthening our commitment to innovation, collaboration and member-focused leadership across the payments ecosystem. Representing financial institutions, payments strategy and industry leadership, each Board member brings a unique perspective shaped by years of experience, professional engagement and a passion for helping organizations ...

Ask Hoot-E: AI in Authorizations and Disputes

By Hoot-E posted 05-04-2026
Special thanks to @Emily Nelson , AAP, AFPP, APRP, NCP, Manager, Payments Education for helping me write this blog! As clients are increasingly using mobile devices, online platforms and connected tools to initiate payments, it’s no surprise that we need to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more involved in the initiation of payments and dispute processes. It is important to be able to identify the key components of a transaction to properly investigate an entry if it is disputed, maintain compliance ...

The Game Plan is Changing: Why We’re Leveling Up Our Events

By James Carrick posted 05-04-2026
By now, you’ve probably noticed our calendar looks a little different. We’ve been swapping out some of those "hop in the car and drive three hours" dates for more "log in from your office" sessions. Believe me when I say we’ll miss the extra face time with all of you, and it wasn’t an easy decision to step away from that. There’s a method to the madness. Historically, we’ve leaned heavily on training within "driving distance," but even a two-hour drive is a chunk of your day you’ll never get back, and it's simply not realistic to make all trainings equally accessible to all our members. So, we’re shaking things up to ensure our training better meets your ...

Congratulations to our 37 New EPCOR Member and Staff AFPPs!

By Hoot-E posted 04-21-2026
We are thrilled to congratulate the 37 EPCOR members and staff who successfully passed the Accredited Faster Payment Professional (AFPP) exam! Congratulations to the following: Elizabeth Adkins, AAP, AFPP of Superior Credit Union Robert Austin, AAP, AFPP, APRP of Dollar Bank, F.S.B. Marjorie Boardman, AAP, AFPP, APRP, NCP of Legacy Bank and Trust Myranda Brown, AAP, AFPP, APRP of EPCOR Angela Chudzinski, AFPP of KeyBank Morgan Chumley, AAP, AFPP of Firstar Bank Bryce Doran, AFPP of Merchants Bank of Indiana Tracy Downs, AFPP of Corporate One Federal Credit Union Kelly Dulle, AFPP of First ...

The Critical Importance of a Comprehensive ACH Origination Agreement

By Amy Donaghue posted 04-21-2026
ACH payments have become a central component of how organizations move money today. Businesses rely on ACH for payroll, vendor payments, consumer debits and countless other online transactions. Despite its widespread use, one critical element is often overlooked: a well‑crafted ACH Origination Agreement. This agreement forms the foundation for safe, compliant and well‑controlled participation in the ACH Network. Without it, both financial institutions and business clients are exposed to unnecessary legal, financial and operational risks. Special Considerations for Third-Party Senders Third‑Party Senders are required under the ACH Rules to maintain ...