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FedPhone^®: Your telephone link to the Federal Reserve’s FedACH^® Services Voice Response System

How Does FedPhone Work

FedPhone provides access to the Federal Reserve Banks through the use of an automated voice response system and the use of security tools that you develop. Through the use of your institution’s ABA number, a personal three-digit identification number, an eight-digit password and a challenge number, you can access FedPhone to submit FedACH Services return items and notifications of change (NOC).

If your institution is new to the FedPhone access solution, you will need to create a challenge number on either your first or second visit to the system. Once the challenge number is created, you will no longer receive the prompt to develop a challenge number when accessing FedPhone.

Call FedPhone’s FedACH Services number toll free at (888) 699-5561 or locally at (612) 204-5561.

You Enter	System Responds
FedPhone Phone Number	If you are not authorized to use this Voice Response System, please disconnect immediately. Accessing this system without appropriate authorization is prohibited and violators may be prosecuted. The system will prompt you for your ABA #.
ABA Number	You will be prompted for your three digit personal identification number (PIN).
PIN Number	If you wish to speak to a customer contact center representative at any time prior to hearing the application main menu, please press zero, followed by the pound sign. You will be prompted for your eight-digit password followed by the # sign. If you don’t know your password press *.
Password and #	If you would like to set up challenge number at this time press 1 otherwise press 2. Selecting option 2 allows you to bypass setting up a challenge number one time. The bypass option will be provided the first time you call in with the ABA/PIN entered into the system. Future use of FedPhone with the ABA/PIN will require the set up of a challenge number.
1	Please enter a challenge number between 10 and 24 digits long followed by the # sign.
Challenge Number and #	Please re-enter your new challenge number for verification followed by the # sign.
Reenter the Challenge Number	Your challenge has been set. Your account is now set up for password self-service. The system will provide you with the main menu selection.
2 to Bypass	The system will provide you with the main menu selection for this call only.

From the main menu, which is illustrated in the Main Selection section, proceed to the appropriate section to conduct your transaction.

Challenge Numbers

Re-establishing a Challenge Number

If you have forgotten your challenge number and the Federal Reserve Banks’ assistance is required to reset your password, Subscribers will be prompted to re-establish their challenge number.

You Enter	System Responds
FedPhone Phone Number	If you are not authorized to use this Voice Response System, please disconnect immediately. Accessing this system without appropriate authorization is prohibited and violators may be prosecuted. The system will prompt you for your ABA number.
ABA Number	You will be prompted for your three digit personal identification number (PIN).
PIN Number	If you wish to speak to a customer contact center representative at any time prior to hearing the application main menu, please press zero, followed by the pound sign. You will be prompted for your eight-digit password followed by the # sign. If you don’t know your password press *.
Password and #	Please enter a challenge number between 10 and 24 digits long followed by the # sign.
Challenge Number and #	Please re-enter your new challenge number for verification followed by the # sign.
Reenter the Challenge Number	Your challenge has been set. Your account is now set up for password self-service. The system will provide you with the main menu selection.

Using a Challenge Number to Change Your Password

You Enter	System Responds
FedPhone Phone Number	If you are not authorized to use this Voice Response System, please disconnect immediately. Accessing this system without appropriate authorization is prohibited and violators may be prosecuted. The system will prompt you for your ABA number.
ABA Number	You will be prompted for your three digit personal identification number (PIN).
PIN Number	If you wish to speak to a customer contact center representative at any time prior to hearing the application main menu, please press zero, followed by the pound sign. You will be prompted for your eight-digit password followed by the # sign. If you don’t know your password press *.
*	You will be prompted for your challenge number.
Challenge Number and #	Please enter a new eight-digit password.
Enter a Eight-Digit Password	Please reenter your new eight digit password for verification.
Reenter a Eight-Digit Password	The system will provide you with the main menu selection.

• FedPhone will prompt you to change your eight-digit password every 30 days. FedPhone will only accept "strong" passwords and therefore the system will not accept passwords consisting of one digit repeated eight times or eight digits in numerical sequence. A new password cannot be the same as any password used in the last 120 days.
• FedPhone provides you with the ability to change your own password by creating a challenge number. A "smart" challenge number is:
  • Secure, yet easy to remember
  • Between 10 and 24 numerical characters long
  • Not created using sequential numbers (for example: 0123456789 or 9876543210 will not be accepted)
  • Not created using 10 or more repeating numbers (for example: 111111111111 will not be accepted)
  • Only numeric and not contain special characters
  • Not made up of a 10 digit phone number
• When creating your challenge number you may want to utilize the letters on the key pad to "spell" out something that is meaningful just to you, i.e. name of childhood pet and type - starthehorse (782784346773)

Main Selection Menu

Press 1 for Return Item Processing

You Enter	System Responds
1	The system asks for the 15-digit trace number.
Trace Number	System repeats the trace number for verification. If the trace number is correct, Press 1. If it is not correct, Press 2. You will be prompted to enter a trace number again.
1	If the item is found the system will give the dollar amount and prompt for a return reason code to be entered. If the system finds more than one item using that trace number you will be asked to enter an effective entry date and amount. If no item is found you will be prompted to enter another trace number.
2-digit Return Reason Code	The system will verify that the return reason code entered is valid for voice response. If it is valid you will get the choices: To process the item, Press 1. To re-enter the reason code, Press 2. To delete the item and enter another trace number, Press 3. If it is invalid you will be prompted to re-enter the return code.
1	System provides a reference number for the transaction. You can request that the reference number be repeated by pressing "1" when prompted.

Press 2 for Notifications of Change

You Enter	System Responds
2	The system asks for the 15-digit trace number.
Trace Number	System repeats the trace number for verification. If the trace number is correct, Press 1. If it is not correct, Press 2. You will be prompted to enter a trace number again.
1	If the item is found the system will give the dollar amount and prompt for a NOC code to be entered. If the system finds more than one item using that trace number you will be asked to enter an effective entry date and amount. If no item is found you will be prompted to enter another trace number.
2-digit NOC Change Code	The system will verify that the change code is valid for voice response. If it is valid you will be prompted for the correct information based on the change code you entered. If it is not a valid code you will be asked to re-enter a change code.
Corrected information for item, followed by a "#" sign	The system prompts you to verify the information by giving you the following options: If the information is correct, Press 1. If the information is not correct, Press 2.
1	System provides a reference number for the transaction. You can request that the reference number be repeated by pressing "1" when prompted.

Remember These Helpful Hints:

• FedPhone is available for your use from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. (Eastern Time).
• Following are the standard choices available from the main menu:
  • 1 – Enter a Return Item
  • 2 – Enter a NOC
  • 9 – Exit the System
  • 0 – Transfer to a FedACH Central Operations staff member
• A pause (approximately 3-10 seconds) is to be expected during the logon process and again after a trace number is entered. The system is performing security verifications and searching the database.
• If you make an invalid entry, the system will respond: "Your entry is invalid." The system will then repeat the original prompt. You will be given three attempts to enter a valid number before you are disconnected.
• Because they are designated for Federal Reserve Bank use only, please do not use reason codes R13, R18, R19, R25, R26, R27, R28, R30, R32, R34, R35, or R36.
• If you enter a return reason code of R14 or R15 the system will ask you for the date of death. Enter 000000 (MMDDYY) if you do not know the date of death. These two reason codes are related to death notification entries (DNE).
• Only the following NOC change codes may be used: C01, C02, C03, C05, C06, C07, C09, and C11. The system will instruct you to submit a paper entry if you try to enter a NOC requiring alpha data.
• No transaction is complete until the system has confirmed that the entry has been accepted and has issued a reference number. Be sure to record and retain the reference number. The reference number can be repeated if you press "1" when prompted.
• The database contains ten business days of information. Items older than ten days will not be accessible. Please submit these items using a FedACH Return Item Exception Fax Form. If you need help determining alternative processing options for these items please contact a FedACH Central Operations staff member at (888) 883-2180.
• If you need assistance with FedACH Services via the FedPhone access solution or your password, please call the FedACH Central Operations Staff in:
  • Minneapolis at (888) 883-2180
  • Atlanta at (866) 234-5681

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