The federal government plays a crucial role in the ACH Network, so when it decides to adopt new Nacha Operating Rules, the payments community takes note. On Jan. 3, 2022, the U.S. Treasury did just that, issuing a Final Rule addressing Nacha Rules changes included in the 2020 and 2021 Nacha Operating Rules publications.

The Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced that it would adopt most of the changes made, including: 

• Increasing the per payment maximum for Same Day ACH to $1 million. 
• Meaningful Modernization changes in their entirety.
• Limitation on Warranty Claims.
• Supplementing Data Security Requirements.
• Supplemental Fraud Detection Standard for WEB Debits (with a delayed effective date of March 22, 2022).
• Improper uses of Reversals.
• Differentiating Unauthorized Return Reasons (repurposing of code R11).

“The ACH Network depends on the cooperation of all participants and adherence to the Nacha Rules, which is why we appreciate Treasury’s decision,” said Michael Herd, Nacha Senior Vice President, ACH Network Administration. “Having Treasury regularly adopt the most current Nacha Rules allows for greater consistency and understanding throughout the ACH Network.”

The decision is effective Feb. 2, 2022, except for the higher Same Day ACH limit, which takes effect March 18, 2022. 

In its Final Rule, Treasury declined to adopt the Rule regarding improved enforcement capabilities for egregious Rules violations, noting that “the enforcement provisions of the Operating Rules and Guidelines are inapplicable to Federal agencies.” 

Additionally, Treasury did not adopt the ACH Contact Registry Rule requiring financial institutions using the ACH Network to register contacts for ACH operations and fraud/risk management. However, it did note, “The Fiscal Service appreciates Nacha’s suggestion that the Federal Government consider alternative methods of making appropriate contact information available to financial institutions and may do so in the future.”

Visit the Nacha Operating Rules page on Nacha.org to learn about recently enacted Rules, upcoming Rules, and more.