Federal Government Participation in the Automated Clearing House

We are amending our regulation governing the use of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system by Federal agencies. The rule adopts, with some exceptions, the ACH Rules developed by NACHA--The Electronic Payments Association (NACHA) as the rules governing the use of the ACH Network by Federal agencies. We are issuing this rule to address changes to the ACH Rules set forth in NACHA's 2006 ACH Rules book and 2007 ACH Rules book. We are adopting all of the changes that NACHA published in the 2006 ACH Rules book and 2007 ACH Rules book, except certain changes to the self- audit provisions of the ACH Rules, which we have previously determined are not appropriate for the Federal government. This rule follows publication of a January 9, 2008 proposed rule and adopts the provisions of the proposed rule without change. In addition, the rule provides two exceptions to existing deposit account requirements. Generally, an ACH credit entry representing a Federal payment other than a vendor payment must be deposited into a deposit account at a financial institution in the name of the recipient. On April 25, 2005, Treasury waived this requirement in order to allow some or all of the amount to be reimbursed to a Federal employee for official travel credit card charges to be disbursed directly to the credit card issuing bank. The rule codifies this waiver. The rule also provides an exception from existing deposit account requirements in cases where a Federal payment is to be disbursed through a debit card, stored value card, prepaid card or similar payment card program established by the Financial Management Service (Service).