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💸 How ACH Transfers Work

Follow an ACH payment from authorization and account data through batching, settlement, posting, and possible return.

lessons

~10 min

to learn

📈 Business

subject

Adults

level

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What you’ll learn

FoundationsDefine ACH, distinguish credits from debits, and identify the institutions in a payment path.ACH moves electronic pushes and authorized pulls through originators, ODFIs, operators, RDFIs, and receivers.
From data to settlementExplain why routing numbers, account numbers, dates, amounts, and codes matter.Structured fields enter batch processing, where cutoffs, banking days, settlement windows, and posting decisions shape timing.
Exceptions and consumer controlRecognize authorization, revocation, and error-resolution considerations.Entries can be returned, and consumers should document permissions and report unfamiliar transfers promptly.

Questions this course answers

What is an ACH credit?

An ACH credit sends funds toward a receiving account, such as payroll direct deposit.

What does an ACH operator do?

Operators process files, sort entries, and settle institutions' positions.

Why can a weekend change ACH timing?

Weekends and holidays are not ordinary banking days.

What does Same Day ACH change?

Same Day ACH accelerates eligible entries within defined windows.

What can happen after an ACH entry is submitted?

Entries may be posted or returned for funding, account, or authorization problems.

Grounded in trusted sources

Nacha, How ACH Payments Work: https://www.nacha.org/content/how-ach-payments-work
Nacha ACH Guide for Developers, How ACH Works: https://achdevguide.nacha.org/index.php/how-ach-works
Federal Reserve Board, Automated Clearinghouse Services: https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/fedach_about.htm
Federal Reserve Financial Services, FedACH SameDay Service: https://www.frbservices.org/financial-services/ach/same-day-service.html
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What is an ACH transaction?: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-an-ach-transaction-en-1065/
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Electronic Fund Transfers FAQs: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/deposit-accounts-resources/electronic-fund-transfers/electronic-fund-transfers-faqs/
Wikimedia Commons API search results for ACH, direct deposit, and bank transfer images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/api.php

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