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ACH ORIGINATOR RESOURCES

ACH Originator Resources

Supporting You as an ACH Originator

You have responsibilities as an ACH Originator, and we are here to support you. We provide reliable resources to get you started and keep you up to date. The information we’ve included here includes product guides, Nacha rules, plus articles, videos and news on recent ACH trends. Nacha is the governing body of the ACH Network, a payment system that drives safe, smart, and fast Direct Deposits and Direct Payments. Need more information about First Merchants ACH Payments? Visit the ACH Payments product page for features, cut-off times and more.

Our team is here to support you. Treasury Solutions is easily accessible and can help with any of your service needs. Our ACH Quick Start Guide is the best resource to get you started once you’re set up. Your Treasury Management Officer will attentively listen to your needs and can help assemble the right electronic payments solutions for your business, leveraging ACH, ACH Positive Pay or other solutions. We can adapt the right technology to support you with payables and receivables.


Contact a Treasury Management Officer


Nacha Rules & Guidelines

March 20, 2026 – New ACH rules go into effect

ALERT: This is an important notice for ACH Originators regarding standardized Company Entry Descriptions.

The National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) has announced updates to the ACH Operating Rules that take effect March 20, 2026. These changes aim to improve transparency for receivers across the ACH Network.

What has changed?

Starting March 20, 2026, ACH Originators must use standardized descriptions in the Company Entry Descriptions field for specific transaction types:

  • PPD Credits (wages/salaries): Must use PAYROLL
  • WEB Debits (consumer-initiated e-commerce): Must include PURCHASE

What does this mean for me?

  • Templates and one-time payments for PPD Credits will default to PAYROLL instead of ACH Batch and are not customizable.
  • ACH upload files must be updated to include PAYROLL in the Company Entry Description field for PPD Credits.
  • If you originate WEB transactions for Ecommerce transactions, contact Treasury Solutions for guidance to ensure compliance.

What do I need to do?

Please review and update your files now to ensure a smooth transition before the March 20, 2026, effective date.

For official rules text, guidance, and updates, visit: https://www.nacha.org/newrules


Trends with ACH


If you have questions or would like help preparing for these changes, please contact our Treasury Solutions team at 1-866-833-0050, option 2.

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