Overview

Treasury Software's ACH Universal Online supports the Canadian Payments Association (CPA) Standard 005 EFT file format (1464-byte fixed-width format) for Canadian financial institutions that are not listed as a specific bank option within the software.

This guide explains how to configure ACH Universal Online to create Canadian EFT files for any Canadian bank using CPA-005 standard, including routing number formatting, Destination Data Centre setup, File Creation Number (FCN) requirements, and common banking considerations.

Table of Contents

• CPA-005 Format Overview
• Step-by-Step Canadian EFT Setup
• Financial Institution & Transit Number Formatting
• File Creation Number (FCN) Requirements
• Format Settings
• Daily Processing Notes
• Frequently Asked Questions

CPA-005 Format Overview

The CPA-005 format is the standard Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) file format used by Canadian financial institutions for direct deposits, vendor payments, payroll, collections, and other electronic payment processing.

Key Features

• CPA Standard 005 1464-byte file format
• Supports Canadian EFT credit and debit transactions
• Compatible with most Canadian banks and Credit Unions
• Uses a 9-digit Financial Institution and Transit Number structure

Step-by-Step Canadian EFT Setup

Step 1: Click on  EFT Settings tile

From the Home screen, select EFT Settings

Step 2: Select Bank

If your bank is not listed, choose 'All Other Banks'

Step 3: Enter the Destination Data Centre

Enter the 5-digit Destination Data Centre code supplied by your financial institution

Step 4: Enter Company Banking Information

Complete the required fields:

• Company Short Name
• Company Long Name
• Company ID/Originator ID (provided by your financial institution)
• Branch Transit Number

Save your changes once complete.

Financial Institution & Transit Number Formatting

Canadian EFT files use a 9-digit routing structure:

Example:

File Creation Number (FCN) Requirements

Most Canadian financial institutions require a unique File Creation Number (FCN) for every file submission to prevent duplicate processing.

ACH Universal Online automatically increments the FCN by one each time a new file is generated.

Please check with your bank for their specific File Creation Number requirements.

Format Settings

Some banks may have specific formatting requirements within the CPA-005 file structure.

Examples include:

• Blank-filled vs. zero-filled fields
• Custom company identifies
• Specialized transaction coding

Always compare your configuration against your bank's CPA-005 specification and adjust settings as need. Treasury Software is happy to help you adjust the settings or to send instructions on adjusting the settings to match your financial institution's specifications.

Daily Processing Notes

Before sending live Canadian EFT files, confirm the following with your financial institution:

• Are debit and credit transactions allowed in the same file?
• How many days in advance can future-dated transactions be submitted?
• How are weekend and holiday transactions processed?
• Are there any additional File Creation Number (FCN) requirements?
• Are there any institution-specific CPA-005 formatting requirements?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do all Canadian banks use CPA-005?

Most Canadian banks and credit unions support the CPA Standard 005 EFT file format, although some institutions may require bank-specific settings.

2. Can ACH Universal Online create EFT files for banks not listed in the software?

Yes. The 'All Other Banks' options allows users to create CPA-005 files for Canadian financial institutions that do not have a dedicated bank profile.

3. What is the Destination Data Centre code?

The Data Destination Centre is a bank-assigned routing code used within the CPA-005 file. Your financial institution can provide the correct value.

4. What happens if my FCN is incorrect?

Your bank may reject the file or flag it as a duplicate. Contact your financial institution to verify their FCN requirements or sequencing rules. You can adjust the FCN in the software and recreate the file as needed.

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