ACH Drafter — Setup
Overview
Before you can create ACH drafts, you need to complete a three-step setup process. The setup wizard guides you through configuring your company information, adding bank accounts, and creating recipients.
Accessing Setup
- Navigate to ACH Drafter from the top navigation menu.
- Click the Setup tab.
- The setup stepper shows your progress through the three steps.
Step 1: Company Information
Your company information appears in every ACH file you generate. Fill in the following fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Your organization's legal name (up to 16 characters in the ACH file). |
| Company ID | Your company's identification number, typically your EIN/Tax ID prefixed with 1. |
| Company Entry Description | A brief description of the transactions (e.g., "PAYROLL", "VENDOR PMT"). |
Click Save after entering your company details. You can return to edit this information at any time.
Step 2: Bank Accounts
Add the bank accounts that will originate your ACH transactions. Each bank account requires:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Bank Name | A friendly name to identify this bank (e.g., "Primary Checking"). |
| Routing Number | The 9-digit ABA routing number of the originating bank. |
| Account Number | Your account number at the originating bank. |
| Account Type | Checking or Savings. |
Adding a Bank
- Click Add Bank to open the form.
- Enter the bank details.
- Click Save. The routing number is validated for correct format and check digit.
You can add multiple bank accounts and select which one to use when creating each draft.
Editing or Removing Banks
Use the Edit and Delete buttons in the banks table to manage your accounts.
Step 3: Recipients
Recipients are the individuals or businesses that will receive (or send) payments through your ACH files. Each recipient requires:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | The recipient's name (up to 22 characters in the ACH file). |
| Routing Number | The 9-digit ABA routing number of the recipient's bank. |
| Account Number | The recipient's bank account number. |
| Account Type | Checking or Savings. |
| ID Number | An optional identifier for the recipient (e.g., employee ID). |
Adding Recipients
You can add recipients in three ways:
- Manual entry — Click Add Recipient and fill in the form.
- CSV Import — Import multiple recipients at once from a CSV file. See CSV Import for Recipients for details.
Managing Recipients
Use the table actions to Edit or Delete individual recipients. The search box filters the recipient list by name or account number.
Setup Status
The ACH Drafter Dashboard shows your setup status at a glance:
- A green checkmark indicates a completed step.
- The dashboard shows your bank count and recipient count.
- You can return to setup at any time by clicking the Setup tab.
Next Steps
Once setup is complete, you're ready to create your first ACH draft.