R11

What Is ACH Return Code R11?

ACH return codes are used to identify the reason an ACH payment has been returned by the recipient's bank. They make it easier for originating and receiving financial institutions to spot and communicate payment failures.

ACH Return Code R11, also known as “Check Truncation Entry Return,” is a standard code used in Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions. R11 indicates that a check truncation entry has been returned unpaid—in other words, someone attempted to electronically deposit a check and it was not deposited successfully.

How To Address ACH Return Code R11

Nacha prescribes separate rules for handling each return code since each one represents a unique scenario. ODFIs (Originating Depository Financial Institutions) and RDFIs (Receiving Depository Financial Institutions) are responsible for handling ACH return codes according to these rules.

R11 is triggered when the RDFI encounters a problem—such as insufficient funds, an expired check or transaction, suspected fraud, or invalid account numbers, among other possibilities—and can’t process an electronic check deposit. The RDFI must return the transaction with code R11 within 60 calendar days.

One major difference between R10 and R11 is that with an R11 return, the originator is allowed to correct the underlying error with the deposit and re-submit the transaction without obtaining a new authorization for the transaction. If you encounter R11, the best way to address it is to figure out the underlying error with the transaction by contacting the RDFI, then correcting the error, and submitting the transaction again.

What Is An ACH Return Code?

ACH return codes identify the reason an ACH payment was returned by the recipient's bank. They make it easier for originating and receiving financial institutions to spot and communicate payment failures. Each code begins with 'R' followed by a two digit number. ACH return codes are standardized and maintained by NACHA, the governing body for the ACH network.