Blogs

EPCOR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS FEATURED ON FORBES’ BEST BANKS LIST

By Hoot-E posted 8 hours ago
Forbes released its 17 th annual list of Best Banks, and we’re excited to share 21 EPCOR member organizations are among the list! 👏🏼 Congratulations to the following financial institutions featured on the 2026 Forbes list of Best Banks: #8 German American Bancorp #9 Central Bancompany #11 1st Source Bank #17 First National Of Nebraska #20 First Financial (IN) #22 Home BancShares #24 First Mid Bancshares #30 Stock Yards Bancorp #32 Republic Bancorp (KY) #35 Civista Bancshares #40 JPMorganChase #41 Great Southern Bancorp #49 BancFirst #51 Community Trust Bancorp #55 First ...

Top 5 Third-Party Sender Audit Findings

By Casey Demma posted 12 hours ago
The ACH Rules require Third-Party Senders (TPSs) and Third-Party Service Providers (TPSPs) to complete an ACH Rules Compliance Audit annually. In 2025, EPCOR’s team of experts conducted audits for a wide range of TPSs and TPSPs. Throughout these engagements, our team observed several recurring compliance issues. Here’s a breakdown of last year’s top audit findings and the common areas needing attention. Audits and Risk Assessments A surprising number of TPSs don’t even realize they are TPSs, leaving them unaware of their obligation to perform an annual ACH Rules Compliance Audit or a periodic risk assessment. EPCOR frequently conducts these ...

Refund Rush: Tackle Tax Season with Confidence

By Stephanie Mareski posted 14 days ago
Each year, our member financial institutions share the challenges they encounter when managing incoming tax refunds, particularly in balancing compliance with delivering excellent client and member service. To assist, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions, along with ACH Rules -based guidance to help safeguard your clients and your organization. What if the name on the Entry doesn’t match the name of the account holder? Under ACH Rules Subsection 3.1.2, financial institutions are not obligated to verify an account name with the transaction being posted to the account. The Green Book further clarifies this on page 1-8. ...

Payments Innovation Alliance: Same Themes, Deeper Reality

By Brian Dao posted 14 days ago
I recently attended Nacha’s Payments Innovation Alliance meeting. The topics were not new, but the conversations felt more practical. Less “what if” and more “this is how people are using it.” Here are a few quick takeaways that stood out from the sessions: Open Banking: Section 1033 Still in Play Section 1033 remains in limbo, although the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) secured funding that appeared focused on finalizing a rule. Operationally, open banking creates wrinkles for ACH and recurring payments. Merchants can check whether funds are available before debiting. This is great for the consumer and prevents unnecessary Non-Sufficient ...

Ask Hoot-E: ACH Credit Monitoring Requirements for RDFIs

By Hoot-E posted 14 days ago
Special thanks to @Myranda Brown , AAP, APRP , Analyst, Payments, Risk & Compliance for helping me write this blog! As the ACH Network continues to evolve, RDFIs face new responsibilities in the fight against fraud. Our auditors recommend that financial institutions take a proactive approach to stay in compliance with the new ACH Rules going into effect this month. These changes represent a meaningful shift in risk management expectations, requiring careful monitoring ...

2025 SAR Data Across Payment Systems

By Trevor Witchey posted 14 days ago
From the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), full 2025 Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) numbers have arrived, revealing notable patterns across ACH, wire transfers, check payment systems and credit and debit cards. Using collected SAR filings through 2014 by payment system, here’s the visual trend through 2025: When comparing 2024 to 2025 SAR filings per payment system: ACH: 316,786 total filings, up 8.3% Wire Transfers: 130,382 total filings, up 7.4% Checks: 475,878 total filings, down 8.7% Credit and Debit Cards: 316,786 total filings, up 6.2% Only ...

Paymentspalooza Rocks Out in Indianapolis for the FIRST TIME EVER!

By Shirley James posted 14 days ago
In our technology-driven world, payments professionals have a variety of ways to learn new strategies and sharpen their skills. You can listen to podcasts, read whitepapers, attend webinars or participate in virtual events. All are valuable and have their place in continuing education. With so many options available, you might ask yourself why it’s worth investing the time and money to attend an event like EPCOR Payments Conference - Spring 2026 . Simply put, you cannot find this unique, focused experience anywhere else. It dramatically enhances both your professional and personal development while equipping you with the tools and skills needed ...

Ask Hoot-E: 2025 Audit Retrospective: Notable Findings and Recommendations from the Field

By Hoot-E posted 02-13-2026
Special thanks to @Deanna Jewell , AAP, APRP, Senior Analyst, Payments Risk & Compliance for helping me write this blog! EPCOR’s Advisory Services Team had a productive 2025, supporting financial institutions through audit engagements across core payment channels: ACH, Remote Deposit Capture (RDC) and wire transfers. While each payment channel presents its own unique operational and compliance risks, our audit results revealed consistent, recurring citations. The following insights, findings and observations are areas ...

Instant Payments, Evolving ACH Rules and What’s Next: Why You Can’t Miss Payment Systems Update

By Sharon Hallmark posted 02-13-2026
The payments ecosystem isn’t just changing, it’s accelerating rapidly. From instant payment rails scaling to handle multi-million-dollar transactions to the ACH Rules continuing to evolve to address fraud, sanctions and international processing, financial institutions are facing a pivotal moment. Payment Systems Update is designed to help you stay ahead of the curve with actionable insights, regulatory clarity and peer-driven perspectives. This year’s agenda features two timely, high-impact sessions that address the operational, compliance and strategic challenges payments professionals face today: Instant Payments in Motion: RTP ® & ...

Nacha Announces 2026-2027 Advisory Committees

By Hoot-E posted 02-13-2026
Nacha’s Payments Innovation Alliance is kicking off 2026 with a fresh lineup of leaders ready to shape the future of payments. Comprised of elected members across five advisory committees, this group brings a mix of expertise, vision and real-world experience to help guide the Alliance and its members through the rapidly evolving payments landscape. This year, we’re especially proud to spotlight EPCOR’s very own Brian Dao, AAP, Vice President of Member Engagement, serving on the Emerging Payments Advisory Committee and Matthew Wade, AAP, AFPP, APRP, CPA, Payments, Risk & Compliance Advisor on the Risk, Security & Regulatory Payments Advisory Committee. ...

From Access to Impact: The Next Phase of Instant Payments for Financial Institutions

By Sharon Hallmark posted 02-02-2026
Instant payments in the U.S. are entering a new phase of maturity. According to the 2025 Instant Payments Adoption Outlook , a quantitative study conducted by the U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC) in collaboration with Federal Reserve Financial Services, many financial institutions now have the ability to receive instant payments, shifting the focus from access to impact: how instant payments create meaningful value for clients, businesses and the institutions that serve them. The study suggests that success in this next phase will be driven less by speed alone and more by relevance, trust and thoughtful execution. Meaningful Use Cases Drive ...

Guest Blog: Building a Fraud Response Plan

By Amelia Bertness posted 02-02-2026
Business units often focus on their core responsibilities, bringing specialized expertise to their organization. While this can make day-to-day operations efficient, it can create gaps when responding to fraud incidents. Without coordination, responses can be slow, inconsistent or ineffective, leaving an organization vulnerable. An effective Fraud Response Plan relies on collaboration and clear communication . Organizations that foster strong collaboration across all business units can act swiftly to contain and resolve fraud incidents together. Define the Scenarios in Scope of the Plan Scenarios should consider the type ...

Romance Scams: 🌹 Roses Are Red, Flags Are Too 🚩

By Keldon Bowling posted 01-30-2026
Think high-end chocolates and dozen-rose bouquets are hard on your wallet? Today’s heartbreak comes with a much steeper price tag. Romance scams are on the rise, and the losses aren’t small change. According to the Better Business Bureau , romance schemes surged in 2024, generating tens of thousands of reports and hundreds of millions in losses—a trend continuing into 2026 as scammers exploit social media, dating apps and generative AI, with 2025 data from Norton showing romance/friendship scams carried some of the highest financial losses among reported scam types and AI-enabled dating fraud attacks increasing sharply. What is a Romance ...

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

By Brandie Thacker posted 01-16-2026
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. ...

The Risks of Crypto ATMs

By Trevor Witchey posted 01-16-2026
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 ...

Meet Ryan Chilton

By Hoot-E posted 01-16-2026
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 ...

Congrats to our 62 New AAPs! 🥳

By Hoot-E posted 01-02-2026
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 ...

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

By Brandie Thacker posted 01-02-2026
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 ...

Ask Hoot-E: Building Stronger ODFI Risk Programs

By Hoot-E posted 01-02-2026
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 ...

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

By Keldon Bowling posted 01-02-2026
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 ...