FedACH Risk® RDFI Alert Service Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Reserve Financial Services is committed to providing the answers and information you need. Answers to many of our customers' most frequently asked questions can be found using the links below.
If your question is not answered by the information provided on the site, Contact provides a comprehensive list of service and support contacts who can assist you.
Service Overview
- What is the FedACH Risk RDFI Alert Service, and what does it do?
RDFI Alert is one of the services in the Federal Reserve Bank’s suite of FedACH Risk Management Services.
This service allows a RDFI to monitor its incoming FedACH® files, batches and entries against certain criteria it establishes.
With RDFI Alert monitoring at the file level, you can use three criteria to define what you believe to be extraordinary conditions at the FedACH file-level. The three criteria are a debit threshold, a credit threshold and/or an entry + addenda count (file size) threshold. You can monitor for extraordinary conditions by setting debit and/or credit dollar value thresholds and/or by setting file size thresholds (entry + addenda count), which will apply to all files which contain your RDFI batches.
When FedACH distributes a file that contain batches that together exceed any file thresholds or meet batch- or entry-level criteria, FedACH sends notice to email addresses that you have designated. The email addresses may be internal to your institution or, in the case of entry-level alerts, be those of your account holders. The email notifies designated email recipients that the service has found a match to one or more of your established criteria. For DFI-level file or batch criteria, it directs recipients to FedACH Information Services for detailed information. For entry-level alerts to your account holders, the email contains an attachment of corresponding information.
Batch- and entry-level alerts can be built from combinations of criteria such as SEC code, originator Company ID and same day settlement. Entry-level alerts are set up by your receiving customer account numbers so that alerts can be emailed directly to them.
For detailed information, please also visit the FedACH Risk RDFI Alert Service page.
- How does the RDFI Alert service work?
For detailed information, also visit the FedACH Risk RDFI Alert Service page. Enter alert email contacts and alert thresholds by accessing FedACH Information Services. The service will monitor each file distributed by FedACH and containing your RDFI batches against your specified thresholds. If the service finds a match to your established criteria, it sends an informational alert email at the time of file distribution to your designated email addresses.
Service Benefits
- What are the benefits of the service?
For detailed information, also visit the FedACH Risk RDFI Alert Service page. The service helps you protect your bank and customers from the consequences of large errors and possible originator fraud. It can provide your receiving account holders with information on their incoming ACH entries, such as large debits or credits.
The service searches for file- and batch-level criteria matches at the time of each file distribution throughout the processing day. If it finds a match to established criteria, it sends an email at the time of FedACH file distribution to designated email addresses. Alerts may be sent earlier in the day than you, or your receiving point, typically process FedACH payments. This can give you earlier warning of potential problems, such as returning an erroneous transaction, verifying the amount or confirming transactions with your receiver, and provide time to research and take corrective action. The service searches for matches to entry-level criteria at the end of the ACH processing day. The service allows you to proactively manage incoming ACH files, positioning you to detect problems and act on them before receiving calls from customers or before having to fund your Federal Reserve account.
- How do RDFI Alert criteria at the file and batch level help our bank manage its Federal Reserve account balance?
The RDFI Alert Service allows you, the RDFI, to establish threshold dollar values for incoming FedACH files and/or batches. FedACH creates files prior to the posting of the settlement to your Federal Reserve account and sends any alert emails to your designated email contacts at the time of file distribution. If you receive a file or batch exceeding your thresholds, the service alerts you to the condition, making you aware of potential significant value impact to your Federal Reserve account.
Pricing
- What is the price of the service?
Please refer to the FedACH Services Fee Schedule for the current fees associated with the FedACH Risk RDFI Alert service.
Setup
- How do we sign up for the service?
To use the service, you will need to subscribe to FedACH Information Services via the FedLine Web or FedLine Advantage Solutions. Once your institution has access to the FedACH Information Services screens, you sign up for the service by submitting Part 6C (PDF) of the FedACH Participation Agreement. Your relationship manager can assist you with the setup steps. Their contact information can be found on the Contact page.
Criteria and Email Alerts
- Why would we want to set a file-level criterion for transaction (entry) count?
Entry count is a proxy for the size of a file. While the best indicator of significant impact to the RDFI will be the dollar value, an abnormal file size can be an indicator of fraud or an indication of a large error. Identifying this condition early may prevent a customer service issue.
- What information is contained in the alert email?
An alert email is generated by the service when a threshold is exceeded or a criterion is matched. For file-level alerts, this email identifies the file in question by file ID modifier and provides information about the file. This information includes the debit and credit dollar value of the file, the number of entry + addenda contained in the file, the active thresholds used to trigger the notification and the file identifier. The email provides links to direct someone with access to the FedLine Web screens where more information about batches can be found. Similar information is provided for batch-level alerts. Entry-level alerts carry an attachment of the information matching the entry-level criteria.
- When would an alert email be sent to our contacts?
The service sends alert emails when a FedACH file exceeds one or more alert thresholds or batch-level criteria are met. Whenever an outgoing (output) file is created, the service will compare the totals of the batches contained in the file associated with your RDFI ABA to the threshold values or batch criteria to batch-level criteria. The alert email will only be sent when a dollar value or entry + addenda count exceeds any file thresholds you have defined, or when a match to batch-level criteria is found. The service searches for matches to entry-level criteria at the end of the FedACH processing day and sends email alerts if matches to any criteria are found.
- What types of file-level thresholds can we set for the alert criteria?
Criteria can be set for debit and/or credit dollar value and/or for transaction (entries + addenda) count. Once criteria are set, all batches associated with your RDFI ABA contained in the outgoing file will be summarized at the file level for debit and/or credit value and/or entry + addenda count. The same thresholds apply to all your files and to all your receipt points. A threshold value of zero means any files exceeding a cumulative debit, credit and/or entry + addenda count value greater than zero will trigger an alert. A blank threshold value means files will not be monitored for value and/or count. The service sends an alert email if one or more threshold values are exceeded.
- How will the service use the file-level thresholds to determine when to alert us?
The RDFI Alert Service allows you to monitor FedACH files at the file level. Once file-level thresholds are set, all batches associated with your RDFI ABA contained in the outgoing file will be summarized at the file level for debit and/or credit value and/or entry + addenda count. The service will send an alert email when a threshold value is exceeded.
- Once alerted to a file exceeding a threshold, how do we view the contents of the file?
You will receive an alert email to notify you of the file that exceeded an alert threshold. The email will contain a file ID modifier. You will use the file ID modifier to search for "Received" files within the "Search for Batch" screens of FedACH Information Services.
Functionality
- Can the FedACH Risk RDFI Alert Service be used even if a third-party processor or correspondent receives my files?
The service supports alerts for an RDFI based on ACH transactions transmitted from FedACH® Services directly to the RDFI, through a processor or correspondent receiving point relationship for the RDFI. File alerts for commingled files will be based on the sum of all batches for an RDFI compared against the thresholds for debit/credit dollar amount totals, and entry/addenda totals.