Reference
ACH Return Codes
ACH return codes are standardized two-digit codes assigned by Nacha that indicate why an ACH payment was returned by the receiving bank. Use this reference to quickly identify and resolve payment failures.
R01
Insufficient Funds
The available and/or cash reserve balance is not sufficient to cover the dollar value of the debit entry.
What to do: Have them use a different form of payment or wait until they have sufficient funds.
R02
Account Closed
A previously active account has been closed by the customer or the RDFI.
What to do: Confirm if the bank account is still open. If not, contact your customer for a different account or form of payment.
R03
No Account / Unable to Locate Account
The account number structure is valid and passes check digit validation, but does not correspond to the individual identified in the entry, or is not an open account.
What to do: Contact your customer and confirm the routing number, account number, and exact name on the account. Request a voided check to verify. Submit a new payment with corrected information.
R04
Invalid Account Number
The account number structure is not valid. The entry may fail check digit validation or contain an incorrect number of digits.
What to do: Obtain the correct bank account number, request a voided check, and submit a new payment with the corrected number.
R05
Unauthorized Debit Entry
A transaction meant for a business occurred on a consumer account. This transaction cannot be re-submitted.
What to do: Contact your customer to resolve any issues. Ask for a different form of payment or a different bank account. If the same account is needed, instruct the customer to call their bank and remove the block.
R06
Return per ODFI’s Request
The ODFI has requested that the RDFI return the ACH entry.
What to do: Contact the customer to find out how they’d like to proceed.
R07
Authorization Revoked by Customer
A consumer who previously authorized ACH payment has revoked authorization from the Originator. Must be returned no later than 60 days from settlement date.
What to do: Immediately suspend any recurring payment schedules for this account. Contact your customer to resolve the issue. If the same account is needed, instruct them to call their bank and remove the block.
R08
Payment Stopped
The receiver of a recurring debit transaction has stopped payment. A stop payment was initiated at some point on this payment.
What to do: Contact your customer and resolve the issue. The customer must contact their bank, have the stop payment lifted, and provide a bank letter confirming this.
R09
Uncollected Funds
Sufficient book balance exists but payment holds are reducing the available balance below the dollar value of the debit entry.
What to do: Have the customer redo the payment once holds are lifted. They may also want to contact their bank about any return fees.
R10
Customer Advises Not Authorized
The account owner has told their bank the EFT was unauthorized and signed a Written Statement of Unauthorized Debit. May be charged back up to two years after the transaction.
What to do: Immediately suspend any recurring schedules for this account. Contact your customer to resolve. Ask for a different payment method or account. If the same account is needed, instruct them to call their bank to remove the block.
R11
Entry Not in Accordance with Terms of Authorization
An authorization exists but there is an error or defect in the payment such that it does not conform to the terms of the authorization.
What to do: Contact the customer to find out why the payment was stopped. They must contact their bank to have the stop lifted and provide a bank letter confirming this.
R12
Branch Sold to Another DFI
The customer’s bank branch has been sold to another financial institution. The RDFI no longer maintains the account and cannot post the entry.
What to do: Obtain the new routing and account numbers, then submit a new transaction. Update any recurring payment schedules accordingly.
R13
RDFI Not Qualified / Invalid ACH Routing Number
The financial institution is not qualified to participate in ACH or the routing number is incorrect.
What to do: Double-check the routing number and confirm with your customer. Submit a new payment with the correct routing number.
R14
Representative Payee Deceased or Unable to Continue
The representative payee is either deceased or unable to continue in that capacity. The beneficiary is not deceased.
What to do: Contact the customer to find out how they’d like to proceed.
R15
Beneficiary or Account Holder Deceased
The beneficiary or account holder is deceased.
What to do: Contact the appropriate party to find out how they’d like to proceed.
R16
Account Frozen
The funds in the account are unavailable due to specific actions taken by the RDFI or by legal action.
What to do: Verify the account and routing numbers are correct. You cannot process transactions on this account until it is unfrozen. Obtain a different form of payment if needed.
R20
Non-Transaction Account
The ACH entry is destined for a non-transaction account — one that is not set up to allow ACH transfers.
What to do: Ask for another form of payment or a different bank account that supports ACH transfers.
R28
Routing Number Check Digit Error
The routing number on the EFT is incorrect.
What to do: Correct the entry and reprocess. If no error is apparent, contact your customer to confirm their accurate banking information.
R29
Corporate Customer Advises Not Authorized
The RDFI has been notified by the Receiver (non-consumer) that the Originator of a given transaction has not been authorized to debit the Receiver’s account.
What to do: Immediately suspend any recurring schedules for this account. Contact your customer to resolve the issue. A bank letter will be required to lift the R29 block from their account.
Need help managing ACH returns?
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