Overview

Treasury Software's ACH Universal Online fully supports RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) Canadian EFT files using the CPA-005 1464-byte format. This guide explains how to configure your account to create RBC-compliant Canadian Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) files, including institution number formatting, transit number requirements, File Creation Number (FCN) rules, debit and credit processing requirements, and testing procedures.

Table of Contents

• CPA-005 & RBC Format Overview
• Step-by-Step RBC Canadian EFT Setup
• File Creation Number (FCN) Rules for RBC
• Debit and Credit File Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

CPA-005 & RBC Format Overview

RBC uses the Canadian Payments Association (CPA) Standard 005 1464-byte fixed-width EFT file format for electronic payment processing.

Key Points

• Uses CPA-005 Canadian EFT format
• Supports electronic debits and credits
• Requires separate files for debit and credit transactions
• Uses a 9-digit financial institution routing structure
• File Creation Numbers must be unique among the previous 9 submitted files
• Supports future-dated transactions up to 173 days in advance

For Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

• Institution Number 003
• Routing numbers always begin with 0003
• Format: 0 + 003 + Branch Transit Number (i.e., 000355555)

Step-by-Step RBC Canadian EFT File Setup 

Step 1: Open Canadian EFT Settings

From the Home screen:

1. Click 'Canada EFT Settings'
2. Choose 'RBC' from the dropdown options
3. Choose data centre to populate Data Destination Centre numbers 

Step 2: Enter Company & Banking Information

Complete the required fields:

• Short Company Name (Many banks require all uppercase, no spaces)
• Long Company Name
• Originator / Company ID (provided by RBC)
• RBC Bank Account Number
• Financial Institution Number
   

--Your institutional id is 9 digits, and is comprised of

It should start with 0003 (0 + 003).
If your branch (transit) number is 22222 for example, enter 000322222
 

Step 3: Configure Testing or Production

Testing:

During Testing:

1. Click 'File Creation Number' in the left navigation bar
2. Turn toggle to 'Testing'
3. Click 'Save'

Production:

When transmitting live files:

1. Click 'File Creation Number' in the left navigation bar
2. Toggle back to 'Production' 
3. Click 'Save'

NOTE: The file creation number is set to 'Production' by default and will begin with File Creation Number 1 if no adjustment is made.

File Creation Number (FCN)

The File Creation Number (FCN) uniquely identifies each transmitted EFT file.

Production Files:

• ACH Universal Online automatically increments the FCN by 1 for each file.
• RBC requires that each FCN be unique compared tot he previous 9 submitted files.
• In normal operations, users do not need to manually reset or modify the FCN. 

Daily Processing Notes:

In most cases:

• No maintenance is required.
• No resets are required
• The system automatically manages FCN sequencing. 

Debit and Credit File Requirements

Important

RBC requires:

• Debit transactions in one file
• Credit transactions in a separate file

If You Process Both Debits and Credits

Create two separate ACH Universal Online accounts

1. One account for EFT Debits
2. One account for EFT Credits

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What EFT format does RBC use?

RBC accepts multiple formats. ACH Universal Online creates the CPA-005 1464-byte EFT file format.

2. What is RBC's institution number:

003

3. Can I include debits and credits in the same RBC file?

No. RBC requires credit and debit transactions to be submitted in separate files.

4. Do I need to manually manage the File Creation Number (FCN)?

Generally, no. ACH Universal Online automatically increments the FCN and maintains compliance with RBC's requirements.

5. How far in advance can RBC accept future-dated EFT transactions?

RBC can warehouse transactions up to 173 days in the future.

6. Can I use CPA-005 for international payments?

No. CPA-005 is designed for Canadian domestic EFT processing only. Cross-border payments require an alternative format such as ACH IAT.

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