Blogs

Congratulations New NCPs! 🎉

By Hoot-E posted 11 days ago
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 18 days ago
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 18 days ago
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 19 days ago
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 ...

FBI IC3 2025 Report Breakdown: Rising Fraud Trends and Emerging Risks

By Trevor Witchey posted 04-21-2026
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released its annual Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Report , reflecting complaints received throughout 2025. The report provides a comprehensive look at cyber-related crime trends, losses and emerging risks impacting clients and financial institutions alike. There are a variety of reports available for review, including: Overall Annual Report State Reports NEW Complainants 17 Years Old or Younger State Reports Cryptocurrency State Report Elder State Report Our team is tracking data in the overall annual report to identify patterns and ...

Paymentspalooza Rocked Indianapolis for the FIRST TIME! 🎸🎶

By Hoot-E posted 04-20-2026
EPCOR Payments Conference – Spring 2026 came to life this month, bringing payments professionals together in Indianapolis for the first time for three days of high-energy education, hands-on learning and forward-looking insights into the evolving payments landscape. Kicking Things Off: Hands-On Learning Workshops Paymentspalooza kicked off with two immersive pre-conference workshops designed to build practical, real-world expertise. Attendees explored the upcoming June 2026 ACH Originator fraud monitoring requirements and what they mean for ODFIs, Third-Party ...

Ask Hoot-E: Navigating U.S. Treasury Check Reclamations

By Hoot-E posted 04-06-2026
Special thanks to @Marcy Cauthon , AAP, AFPP, APRP, NCP, Director, On-Demand Education for helping me write this blog! When our members hear U.S. Treasury reclamations, they often think of ACH benefit payments first. However, there is also a separate reclamation process for issued U.S. Treasury checks. So, Why Discuss U.S. Treasury Check Reclamations? Federal payments by check are steadily transitioning toward electronic methods, except in rare cases where a waiver ...

The Instant Payments Shift

By Brian Dao posted 04-06-2026
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Faster Payments Council (FPC) 2026 Spring Member Meeting, where conversations across the industry made one thing clear: instant payments are no longer an emerging concept — they’re here, operational and continuing to evolve. In addition to the formal sessions, several side conversations added a valuable perspective. While this isn’t a comprehensive recap, I wanted to share a few key takeaways that I believe are especially relevant for our members. Adoption Is Maturing One of the strongest signals from the event was that financial institutions aren’t choosing between the RTP ® Network and the FedNow ...

Why You Can’t Miss the FREE Inside the 2025 U.S. Instant Payments Adoption Study Webinar

By Sharon Hallmark posted 04-06-2026
Instant payments are no longer a future-state ambition; they’re quickly becoming a competitive necessity. If you’re trying to understand where the market is headed, what’s driving adoption and how your organization should respond, this webinar is one you can’t afford to miss. A Data-Driven View of the Industry—From Those Enabling It Our upcoming FREE Inside the 2025 US Instant Payments Adoption Study webinar , happening April 23, is based on the 2025 U.S. Instant Payments Adoption Quantitative Study , developed in collaboration between the U.S. Faster Payments Council and Federal Reserve Financial Services. What makes this study ...

Financial Literacy Month: Empowering the Communities You Serve

By Keldon Bowling posted 04-06-2026
April marks Financial Literacy Month , a time dedicated to strengthening financial knowledge and empowering individuals and the communities they serve to make informed financial decisions. Much like the season of spring, it’s an opportunity for a fresh start: revisiting financial habits, setting new goals and building a stronger foundation for the future — both for individuals and the clients and communities financial institutions support. Why Financial Literacy Matters Financial literacy is more important than ever in today’s fast-moving financial environment, as it is being shaped by digital payments, evolving technologies and increasing economic ...