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

Please see the recent announcement (PDF) regarding the discontinuation of the FedPhone Service.

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) transactions.

If you are a new subscriber to the FedPhone access solution, you will be prompted to create a 10-24 digit challenge number on your first visit to the system. Once the challenge number is created, you will no longer receive the prompt to create a challenge number when accessing FedPhone. Creating a challenge number provides individuals the ability to change their own FedPhone passwords.

A "smart" challenge number is:

  • Secure, yet easy to remember
  • Cannot be comprised of like digits (11111111 or 9876543210 will not be accepted)
  • Only numeric, cannot contain special characters

When creating your challenge number you may want to utilize the letters on the key pad to "spell" out something that is meaningful to you. E.g., if the name of your childhood pet was "Star the horse", you would type "782784346773."

If you forget your password, your challenge number can be used to reset your password. FedPhone will only accept “strong” passwords.

  • The new 8 digit password may not be the same as those used in the past 120 days.
  • Cannot be comprised of like digits. (11111111 or 9876543210 will not be accepted)

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.

If you need assistance relating to your challenge number or password, please press zero, followed by the pound sign (#).  Then select option one from the menu.

The system will prompt you for your ABA number.
ABA Number, followed by the # sign You will be prompted for your three digit personal identification number (PIN).
PIN Number, followed by the # sign You will be prompted for your eight-digit password
If you don’t know your password press *.
Password, followed by the # sign Please enter a challenge number between 10 and 24 digits long.
Challenge Number, followed by the # sign Please re-enter your new challenge number for verification.
Reenter the Challenge Number, followed by the # sign and # 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.

From the main menu, 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, followed by the # sign

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.

If you need assistance relating to your challenge number or password, please press zero, followed by the pound sign (#).  Then select option one from the menu.


The system will prompt you for your ABA number followed by the pound sign.
ABA Number, followed by the # sign You will be prompted for your three digit personal identification number (PIN).
PIN Number, followed by the # sign You will be prompted for your eight-digit password. If you don’t know your password press *.
Password, followed by the # sign Please enter a challenge number between 10 and 24 digits long.
Challenge Number, followed by the # sign Please re-enter your new challenge number for verification.
Reenter the Challenge Number, followed by the # sign 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.

If you need assistance relating to your challenge number or password, please press zero, followed by the pound sign (#).  Then select option one from the menu

The system will prompt you for your ABA number followed by the pound sign.
ABA Number, followed by the # sign   You will be prompted for your three digit personal identification number (PIN).
PIN Number, followed by the # sign You will be prompted for your eight-digit password. If you don’t know your password press *.
* You will be prompted for your challenge number.
Challenge Number, followed by the # sign Please enter a new eight-digit password.
Enter a Eight-Digit Password, followed by the # sign Please re-enter your new eight digit password for verification
Reenter a Eight-Digit Password, followed by the # sign The system will provide you with the main menu selection.

Main Selection Menu

Press 1 for Domestic and International 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 Domestic 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.

Press 3 for International Notifications of Change

You Enter System Responds
3 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.

  1. NOC codes are limited to C01, C02, C05, and C08
  2. If it is valid you will be prompted for the correct information based on the change code you entered.
  3. 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:

  1. If the information is correct, Press 1.
  2. 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 Domestic and International Return Item
    • 2 – Enter a Domestic NOC
    • 3 – Enter an International 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 for Domestic NOCs: C01, C02, C03, C05, C06, C07, C09 . The system will instruct you to submit a paper entry if you try to enter a NOC requiring alpha data.
  • Only the following NOC change codes may be used for International NOCs: C01, C02, C05 and C08. 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, please contact FedACH Central Operations Support. Find the contact number at http://www.frbservices.org/contactus/fedach_operations.html.
  • If you need assistance with FedACH Services via the FedPhone access solution or your password, please call the FedACH Central Operations Support. Find the contact number at http://www.frbservices.org/contactus/fedach_operations.html.

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