Evolve Bank & Trust was established in 1925 as a community bank in eastern Arkansas. Since then, Evolve Bank & Trust has grown into a national financial technology company with an emphasis on open banking, ACH payments and more. In the following article, Evolve Bank & Trust explains Nacha, and how it is shaping the future of ACH payments.
The ACH Network handles electronic financial transactions, like direct payments and direct deposits, for local agencies, state and federal governments, businesses, and consumers and is governed by Nacha.
Nacha accelerates innovation and interoperability through consensus-building and problem-solving, rulemaking and standard-setting, and solution-creating and educating. Nacha Direct Members are accredited through the agency and help define the future of the ACH payment industry by combining knowledge, expertise, and specialisms explains Evolve Bank & Trust.
Last year, over 29 billion ACH Network payments were conducted, valued at nearly $73 trillion. And this simply couldn’t happen without Nacha and the insights provided by its Direct Members.
Who Are Nacha Direct Members
Evolve Bank & Trust explains that Nacha Direct Members are made up of payments association organizations and financial institutions. By joining forces, these banking companies influence and shape the direction of not only the Nacha Operating Rules but also the entire thriving ACH Network.
Every establishment on the member’s list is committed to defining the future of ACH payment through cross-industry collaboration, cooperation, and innovation.
Evolve Bank & Trust says that all Direct Members are actively involved in the governing body’s efforts to advocate for the ACH Network and educate regulators, other stakeholders, and legislators whose policies impact the system. Such actions increase awareness of financial institutions’ roles in the payments system, helping them serve their clients in increasingly effective ways.
Financial Institution Board Members
Financial institutions are companies that deal with various types of monetary transactions like investments, loans, and deposits.
There are currently 34 accredited financial institutions listed as Nacha Direct Members, including well-known names such as Wells Fargo, Deutsche Bank, Evolve Bank & Trust, and Citibank N.A.
Payments Associations
Payments associations are licensed and recognized providers of ACH support, literature, and education. Even though all associations are separate organizations, Evolve Bank & Trust says that they share one goal — improving the quality of the United States of America payment systems through industry teachings and representations.
At the time of article publishing, there are ten payments associations listed as Nacha Direct Members. Evolve Bank & Trust explains that the group represents the true diversity of U.S. financial institutions. And each association is a major contributor to rulemaking processes, ACH advocacy, education, and professional accreditation schemes.
The ten payments associations involved with Nacha are as follows:
- EPCOR
- ePayResources
- PaymentsFirst
- Southern Financial Exchange
- SHAZAM, Inc.
- Wespay
- The Clearing House Payments Authority
- UMACHA – Upper Midwest ACH Association
- NEACH – New England ACH Association
- Macha – Everything Payments – Everywhere
On top of their other duties, the above organizations sponsor a program named the Center for Payments, which helps members and staff prepare for the ever-evolving payment systems in the U.S.
How Being a Nacha Member Helps Financial Institutions Shape the Future of the ACH Payment Industry
Evolve Bank & Trust says that the financial institutions that become Nacha Direct Members become a proactive part of defining, influencing, and shaping the future of the ACH Network in several ways.
First, they can participate in Nacha’s rulemaking process and directly vote on the agency’s Operating Rules, which govern:
- all direct deposits; and
- every single electronic bill payment made via ACH.
As Nacha states, the Rules ensure everybody who uses the ACH Network is kept safe and has well-defined roles and responsibilities to follow. Without them, millions of payments wouldn’t occur so securely and smoothly every single day.
Second, they can serve on, elect, and nominate members for Nacha’s Board of Directors. In doing so, financial institutions help provide visions and leadership for the evolving ACH Network and the organization itself.
Third, Evolve Bank & Trust says that they can contribute to the ongoing efforts to advocate and educate regulators, stakeholders, and legislators about the Network, while also sharing individual perspectives and ideas for the future of the payments industry.
Finally, being a Direct Member means the financial institutions can involve themselves in the Nacha Lawyers Committee. This group of industry attorneys works tirelessly to provide a safe space for lawyers to discuss related topics, like suggested new Rules, and Direct Members’ concerns or thoughts about the ACH Network.
Nacha and Its Direct Members Are Creating the Future of Electronic Payments Across the United States of America
Becoming a Nacha Direct Member gives financial institutions a place to meaningfully contribute to the evolution of the ACH Network and the future of all payments across the country.
