This page is for banks and other financial institutions that need to create an ACH Return File.
Typical corporate clients do not need to create ACH Return Files.
To create ACH Return files you need the Enterprise platform and Advanced (Processor) edition of ACH Universal.
One-time setup:
1. Create a new account to work in
From the main menu select File > New > Create an account - and then complete the wizard.
Note: In this example, we named the account 'Returns'.
2. Default the account to create ACH Return files
From the program Home Page, click ACH File Setup, then next.
Enter your header information here.
Note: If you don't have your header information, you can skip this and come back at any time. It is not needed to create a file, but of course - you'll need to enter it before sending to the FRB or your processor.
When finished, select 'Advanced Setup - Access all setup options' to enable the 'Next' button to continue. Click Next.
Select 'Returns (uses original class)'. Click Next, then Finish.
3. Prepare sample/test data
On the Home tab, click ACH-2-Excel.
On the form, select an ACH file to convert. Once selected, allow the conversion to continue.
A spreadsheet will open with the converted data.
For this sample, add a column to the rightmost field - and enter return codes.
Note: Enter the 'R' plus a leading digit if applicable. For example, for Insufficient Funds, enter R01 as below (column AH or newer versions enter in column AI).
Save the file as an Excel file.
4. Set your mappings
Click on Import Transactions to start the wizard.
Select the Excel file you just saved in the previous step and click Next.
In the upper right corner, select the mapping template Create ACH Return File.
Note: If you are on build 1024 or earlier, follow the mapping steps at our legacy mapping.
Warning: There is a similar named mapping template called 'ACH Returns'
Also check the 'Save as default'
Click Next, Next and Finish to import and most importantly - to save your mappings.
5. Create a test ACH Return File
From the Home page - click on the Go To Create ACH File Page - and then click on Create (see below).
Operations
Simply prepare the data file as above in step 3. All other work has been saved.
Note: Of course, your returns will only be a subset of the entire file. Delete the records within Excel that do not need to be returned.
Field Mappings if you are manually mapping
| Field # | Mapping Name |
| 1 | Date |
| 2 | Amount_Absolute |
| 3 | Bank_Account_Number |
| 4 | ABA_Routing_Number |
| 5 | Name |
| 6 | ACH_ID_Internal |
| 7 | ACH_Transaction_Code |
| 8 | Trace_Resend |
| 9 | Bank_Disc_Data |
| 11 | Descriptive_Date |
| 12 | Comp_Name_Resend |
| 13 | Comp_Disc_Resend |
| 14 | Comp_ID_Resend |
| 15 | Class_3_Letters |
| 16 | Comp_Entry_Desc_Resend |
| 17 | Batch_Resend |
| 18 | Orig_DFI_Resend |
| 27 | Batch_2XX_Resend |
| 28 | Settle_Date_Julian_Resend |
| 34 | ReturnNOC_Code |
A sample of an ACH Return File
We highly recommend that you click through our sample in the Sample account.
During the Sample return file process, you will see the:
--Excel file (that can be used as your template!)
--Mappings of the fields
--A sample ACH Return file
Enter into our Sample account, select the Samples tab, and then click on 'Create a Return File'.
The sample Excel file, which you can use as a template is located at:
C:\Users\Public\Treasury Software\Tutorial\ACHData\Source for ACH Returns.xlsx
You can use the pre-populated mapping template 'Create ACH Return File'.
The detailed mapping is below (3 screen shots)
Reminder:
This would be a good time to backup your work. Click File > Backup.
Reminder: To create ACH Return files you need the Enterprise platform and Advanced (Processor) edition of ACH Universal.
