Account Closure & Data Deletion

Overview

You are always in control of your data. If you decide FISTWorks is no longer the right fit, you can close your account or organization at any time. This article explains exactly what happens, what data is removed, and how the process works.

Closing Your Account

Closing your account removes your personal profile from FISTWorks and revokes your access to all organizations you belong to.

How to Close Your Account

1. Click your name in the top navigation bar.
2. Select Profile from the dropdown menu.
3. Click Close Account.
4. Review the summary of what will happen — you will see a list of organization memberships that will be revoked and any pending invitations that will be canceled.
5. Type CLOSE in the confirmation field.
6. Optionally provide a reason for leaving (this helps us improve).
7. Click Close My Account.

You will be signed out immediately.

What Happens to Your Data

Sole Admin Restriction

If you are the only administrator of an organization, you will need to take one of these steps before closing your account:

• Promote another member to administrator, or
• Close the organization first (see below)

This safeguard prevents organizations from being left without anyone who can manage them. The Close Account page will show you which organizations are blocking closure and what action is needed.

Re-Registering After Closure

You can sign up again with the same email address at any time. A fresh account and organization will be created. Previous data is not restored.

Closing Your Organization

Organization closure permanently deletes all organization data, including ACH files, recipients, bank configurations, templates, SFTP profiles, and audit logs. Only an administrator can initiate this.

How to Close Your Organization

1. Click Organization in the top navigation menu.
2. Click Close Organization.
3. Review the summary of data that will be permanently deleted.
4. Type CLOSE in the confirmation field.
5. Click Close Organization.

30-Day Grace Period

Organization closure is not immediate. After you confirm, your organization enters a 30-day grace period:

• The organization switches to read-only mode — no new files can be created and no settings can be changed.
• All members see a notice with the scheduled deletion date.
• After 30 days, all organization data is permanently removed.

This grace period gives you time to change your mind or recover from an accidental closure.

Canceling a Closure

During the 30-day grace period, any administrator can cancel the closure:

1. Go to the Organization page.
2. Click Cancel Closure.
3. The organization returns to its normal state with all data intact.

What Gets Permanently Deleted

When the grace period ends and the data purge runs, the following is permanently and irreversibly removed:

What Is NOT Deleted

• Your personal account — You and all other members keep your individual accounts. You can join or create new organizations.
• Files already sent to your bank — ACH files that were transmitted via SFTP exist on your bank's systems independently. Only the FISTWorks records of those transmissions are removed.
• Stripe billing history — Payment records are retained by Stripe independently for tax and legal compliance.

How We Protect Your Data

FISTWorks takes data security seriously at every stage:

• Encryption at rest and in transit — Sensitive fields such as bank account numbers and SFTP credentials are encrypted in the database using industry-standard encryption. Even database administrators cannot read encrypted values.
• Data masking — Recipient information is masked in application logs and error messages to prevent accidental exposure.
• Audit logging — Account and organization closures are recorded in the audit trail before any data is removed.
• Complete removal — The purge process removes data systematically to ensure no orphaned records are left behind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export my data before closing?

Yes. Before closing your organization, you can generate and download your ACH files from the Drafter. We recommend downloading any files you need before initiating closure, since the organization becomes read-only during the grace period.

What if I just want to leave an organization without closing it?

You can leave an organization without closing it. Go to the Organization page and click Leave Organization. Your personal account stays active and you can join or create other organizations.

Can the 30-day grace period be shortened?

The 30-day period is fixed to balance convenience with data protection. If you need your data removed sooner, contact support and we will assist you.

Does closing my account cancel my subscription?

Closing your organization cancels its subscription. Closing only your personal account does not affect the organization's subscription — another administrator continues to manage it.

What happens to shared files after I close my account?

ACH files you created remain available to your organization's other members. Your name will no longer appear in the member list, but the files themselves are not affected.

Tips

• Download any ACH files you need before initiating an organization closure.
• If you are the sole administrator, promote a trusted member before closing your personal account.
• Use the 30-day grace period to ensure you have exported everything you need.
• Contact support if you have any questions about what will happen to your specific data.