International ACH Transaction (IAT) Survey Results

On March 20, 2009, the new IAT Standard Entry Class (SEC) code will replace NACHA’s Consumer Cross-Border (PBR) and Corporate Cross-Border (CBR) SEC codes for international ACH transactions. This change will allow institutions to better identify international ACH transactions and help them comply with Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requirements.

In an effort to help measure industry-wide awareness of the IAT SEC code and readiness for this implementation, the Federal Reserve Banks conducted a survey earlier this year.  A total of 453 responses, representing a variety of institution type and asset sizes, were received from these efforts.  The responses comprise a robust sample that provide insights into the industry’s state of readiness for the March 20, 2009 IAT implementation date. The results indicate that the industry-wide awareness campaign is achieving positive results but also that more efforts should be undertaken to ensure greater success.

How knowledgeable are you about the new International ACH Transaction (IAT) SEC code?

Institution Type Extremely and very Somewhat Not very and not at all
National Commercial Bank 42% 44% 15%
Regional Commercial Bank 27% 62% 10%
Community or Savings Bank 9% 52% 39%
Credit Union 6% 38% 57%
ACH Status
RDFI only 4% 29% 68%
Both ODFI and RDFI 19% 53% 29%
Total 18% 48% 34%
Results may not equal 100% due to rounding

How knowledgeable are you about the new International ACH Transaction (IAT) SEC code?

 

Which ACH participants do you expect to be affected by the IAT implementation?

Institution Type Originators Receivers Both originators and receivers (Correct answer) Unsure
National Commercial Bank 2% 6% 84% 8%
Regional Commercial Bank 0% 5% 86% 8%
Community or Savings Bank 4% 17% 62% 18%
Credit Union 5% 23% 50% 23%
ACH Status
RDFI only 9% 12% 47% 33%
Both ODFI and RDFI 2% 16% 69% 13%
Total 4% 12% 69% 15%
Results may not equal 100% due to rounding

Which ACH participants do you expect to be affected by the IAT implementation?

 

Are you aware that all financial instituions need to be able to receive IAT payments effective March 20, 2009?

Institution Type Yes No Unsure
National Commercial Bank 92% 3% 5%
Regional Commercial Bank 100% 0% 0%
Community or Savings Bank 80% 12% 8%
Credit Union 71% 20% 9%
ACH Status
RDFI only 53% 29% 17%
Both ODFI and RDFI 88% 8% 5%
Total 81% 12% 7%
Results may not equal 100% due to rounding

Are you aware that all financial instituions need to be able to receive IAT payments effective March 20, 2009?

 

Has your ACH software vendor been in communication with your organization about IAT readiness?

Institution Type Yes No Unsure
National Commercial Bank 64% 20% 16%
Regional Commercial Bank 81% 3% 16%
Community or Savings Bank 27% 44% 29%
Credit Union 30% 45% 25%
ACH Status
RDFI only 19% 52% 29%
Both ODFI and RDFI 44% 32% 24%
Total 39% 35% 25%
Results may not equal 100% due to rounding

Has your ACH software vendor been in communication with your organization about IAT readiness?

 

Overall, what IAT information/training will be helpful to your organization?

Institution Type Information on staff training Explanations of NACHA rules Best practices for processing IAT transactions Marketing strategies Other Do not need additional info/training
National Commercial Bank 69% 83% 93% 22% 10% 2%
Regional Commercial Bank 61% 75% 92% 25% 8% 0%
Community or Savings Bank 66% 79% 86% 9% 1% 1%
Credit Union 71% 73% 83% 14% 1% 4%
ACH Status
RDFI only 75% 70% 75% 11% 0% 6%
Both ODFI and RDFI 66% 79% 90% 16% 4% 1%
Total 59% 78% 85% 14% 4% 3%

Overall, what IAT information/training will be helpful to your organization?

 

What type of delivery mechanisms would be helpful to your organization for IAT information and/or training?

Institution Type Teleseminars/webinars In-person training session On-line self service resource center On-line question and answer forum Other (Please specify)
National Commercial Bank 88% 38% 69% 55% 5%
Regional Commercial Bank 94% 40% 71% 66% 6%
Community or Savings Bank 91% 26% 62% 39% 1%
Credit Union 88% 23% 49% 33% 1%
ACH Status
RDFI only 83% 29% 38% 31% 2%
Both ODFI and RDFI 91% 28% 66% 46% 2%
Total 86% 26% 59% 42% 3%

What type of delivery mechanisms would be helpful to your organization for IAT information and/or training?

 

How knowledgeable are you about how the new IAT SEC code will affect your institution's OFAC compliance requirements?

Institution Type Extremely and very Somewhat Not very and not at all
National Commercial Bank 35% 39% 26%
Regional Commercial Bank 28% 56% 17%
Community or Savings Bank 9% 49% 43%
Credit Union 5% 38% 57%
ACH Status
RDFI only 2% 31% 66%
Both ODFI and RDFI 18% 47% 35%
Total 17% 43% 40%

 

Does your institution or company perform OFAC screening on ACH payments today?

Institution Type Yes No Don't know
National Commercial Bank 47% 43% 10%
Regional Commercial Bank 39% 56% 6%
Community or Savings Bank 56% 31% 13%
Credit Union 44% 29% 27%
ACH Status
RDFI only 41% 27% 31%
Both ODFI and RDFI 51% 38% 12%
Total 48% 37% 15%

Does your institution or company perform OFAC screening on ACH payments today?

 

How does your institution or company perform OFAC screening on ACH payments today?

Institution Type Use automated software Perform manual screening on some items Screening performed by payments processor Don't Perform Unsure
National Commercial Bank 39% 9% 5% 34% 13%
Regional Commercial Bank 28% 6% 6% 56% 6%
Community or Savings Bank 37% 8% 17% 25% 13%
Credit Union 26% 18% 19% 16% 22%
ACH Status
RDFI only 15% 13% 26% 21% 25%
Both ODFI and RDFI 36% 10% 12% 30% 12%
Total 32% 10% 14% 30% 15%

 

When do you expect that your organization will be ready to process IAT payments?

Institution Type Prior to the March 20, 2009 effective date In time for the March 20, 2009 effective date We have concerns about being ready for the March 20, 2009 effective date
National Commercial Bank 29% 43% 27%
Regional Commercial Bank 14% 49% 37%
Community or Savings Bank 35% 60% 5%
Credit Union 34% 55% 11%
ACH Status
RDFI only 21% 63% 16%
Both ODFI and RDFI 33% 53% 15%
Total 31% 53% 17%
Results may not equal 100% due to rounding

 

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