About the ECC

Electronic Check Council (ECC): The Council consists of financial institutions, retailers, trade associations, clearing house organizations, vendors, service and communication providers, and other payment system stakeholders that are interested in the development of a mechanism for converting checks to electronic entries. The Council is an emancipated group within NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association.

Steering Committee: The Steering Committee manages the affairs of the Council in conjunction with NACHA staff.

Members: There are currently over 140 members, including financial institutions, vendors, retailers, processors, networks and associations.

See List of current members

Key Accomplishments:

• Identification of Business Checks Eligible for Conversion – Rules approved 2005. Rules became effective September15, 2006.
• Back Office Conversion (BOC) – Rules approved 2006. Service becomes operational on March 16, 2007.
• Customer Service Telephone Number Proposal – currently in Rules Work Group process.
• Account Receivable Truncated Check (also called Lockbox) – Rules for pilot approved in 1999. Rules approved 2002. Service operational now.
• Point of Purchase (POP) Check Conversion – piloted 1998 – 1999; Rules approved 1999. Service operational now.
• Re-presented check (RCK) – piloted 1997 – 1998; Rules approved 1998. Service operational now.
• Deposited and Returned Truncated Check (DRTC) – Pilot guide published in 2002. Pilot started in 2003. Extension approved through October 2005. Currently in the Rules Work Group process.
• Consumer website (electronic-check.org) up and running in 2003.

What is NACHA?

NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association is the leading organization in developing electronic solutions to improve the payments system.

NACHA represents more than 12,000 financial institutions through direct memberships and a network of regional payments associations, and 650 organizations through its industry councils. NACHA develops operating rules and business practices for the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network and for electronic payments in the areas of Internet commerce, electronic bill and invoice presentment and payment (EBPP, EIPP), e-checks, financial electronic data interchange (EDI), international payments, and electronic benefits transfer (EBT).

NACHA's Mission is to promote the development of electronic solutions that improve the payments system for the benefit of its members and their customers.

NACHA is dedicated to improving the payments system through its eight primary functions. These are:

1. Rule-making for the ACH Network and other payments systems;
2. Facilitating the development of new payment applications;
3. Identification and implementation of risk management initiatives;
4. Providing and supporting education programs;
5. Instituting and monitoring quality controls in the payments system;
6. Improving member communications/relations;
7. Responding to regulatory and government relations issues; and
8. Marketing electronic payment services.