06/16/2019
Our digital channel team would greatly appreciate your comments and confirmation of our understanding in order to comply with online account opening and funding for new clients with ACH Debits and the ability to hold funds.
The questions below relate to an online account opening process for new clients. After completing the online application, approved clients have the option to fund their new account with funds from an external source – an account they hold at another bank - via an ACH Debit and we are the ODFI.
1. Can we place a hold on the initial funds received as an ACH Debit? Our understanding is “yes” because:
· an ACH debit does not fall under the definition of an electronic payment under Reg. CC (II.Section229.2 Definitions (p)) Electronic Payment, which imposes no availability requirement, and we are free to hold the funds for a period that we determine. Restricting access to those funds would be reasonable to allow for the debit entry to reach the RDFI and be returned to our bank, the ODFI, if there is a problem.
· We are not receiving an ACH credit as we are the ODFI of the ACH debit, and NACHA has no say in when we credit the new account, so there would be no violation of NACHA rules.</ul>
2. Would we be required to provide a hold notice to our online account applicant of the delay in availability or a notice at the time the external funding option is selected that the funds may not be credited to the account for “2-3 days”, or available for “2-3 days” suffice?
Our understanding is:
· a notice that indicates funds may not be available for x days at the time the customer selects the external funding option and submits their authorization should suffice as it becomes part of our agreement when the customer selects that funding option.
· Reg. CC does not impose an availability requirement for ACH Debit transactions, so no Reg. CC hold notice is required.
3. Would our Reg. CC Policy – Funds Availability Notice, need to be updated to refer to availability from ACH Debit transactions?
· Model language is silent in this regard, any recommendations or suggestions are welcome.
04/21/2019
Can a hold be placed on a savings account due to the customers excessive overdrafts on their checking account? Would this be a Reg CC violation?
04/07/2019
Has the minimum for a large dollar return notice been raised from $2,500 to $5,000?
12/16/2018
Per Reg CC, when multiple low-risk items are deposited within the same deposit, would the first $5,000 rule apply to each low-risk item, or would just the first $5,000 of the total deposit need to be made available?
11/11/2018
When two cashier's checks are deposited together and held as a Large Deposit, should $5,000 of the total be made available immediately or is $5,000 from each check ($10,000 of the total deposit) made available immediately?
07/15/2018
My question has to do with scams involving fraudulent checks and how we should handle the check when a customer presents it for payment. Specifically, we had a customer bring in a check for $2,900 that just didn't feel right for the type of business the customer normally conducts. The teller inquired about the check. The customer explained that he had enrolled online as a secret shopper. He was to keep $300 for himself and spend the other $2,600 buying specific merchandise to send back to the company that sent him the check. The teller called the bank on which the check was drawn and was told that it was fraudulent. We have had a law enforcement official tell us that we need to deposit the check anyway, put a hold on the account so that the funds are secured, and wait for the check to be returned so that we have a paper trail and proof that the check is fraudulent. In addition,
once we have proof that the check is fraudulent, we should give the returned check back to the customer so that they can file a complaint with law enforcement. Is this the proper way to handle the check?
06/24/2018
I need an updated answer for 2016! Please re-enforce that "unable to verify funds" is not a valid Reg. CC reason to place a hold on funds.
05/13/2018
With the new Reg CC rules effective July 2018, how will a user be able to differentiate between an electronically created item (ECI) and a remotely created check (RCC)? Will there be an indicator on the file that identifies these items?
08/20/2017
Is a funds availability date required when using the Reg CC hold notice for large dollar charge-backs? The regulation requires you to state on the notice when the funds will be available, however, when you know the
item will be charged back then are you not incorrectly informing the
customer?
05/28/2017
Is there any where in Reg CC that states the bank can hold a check for the entire amount for a New Account?
