NACHA to Recognize Nearly 400 New Recipients of the Accredited ACH Professional Credential During National AAP Recognition Day on February 10
HERNDON, Va., (PRWEB) February 10, 2015 -- In honor of National AAP Recognition Day, NACHA — The Electronic Payments Association announced it recently awarded 363 individuals the Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) credential. Nearly 4,200 professionals currently hold the credential.
NACHA also announced that it has developed a framework to establish benchmarks to enable financial institutions of all sizes and types to compare the number of AAPs on staff with peer institutions in groups defined by asset size and ACH volume, including originated and received ACH transactions. The purpose of the framework is to inform individual financial institution decision making regarding the accreditation of staff as a measurement for examiners, peers and clients of their commitment to NACHA Operating Rules and regulatory compliance, sound risk management, and ACH quality. NACHA developed the benchmarking framework in conjunction with its Regional Payments Associations.
“AAPs are recognized payments industry experts who are highly regarded by financial regulators and examiners,” said Scott M. Lang, AAP, senior vice president, Association Services at NACHA. “On National AAP Recognition Day, I am pleased to announce the launch of the AAP benchmarking initiative as a tool to further demonstrate the value the accreditation provides to financial institutions and the entire ACH Network.”
To be awarded the AAP credential, individuals must pass a comprehensive exam that is administered by NACHA each fall. The exam tests an individual’s knowledge of subjects including the NACHA Operating Rules, the ACH Network and other payments systems, technical and operational ACH requirements, risk management, and payments-related regulations.
NACHA and the Regional Payments Associations will honor recently credentialed and current AAPs during National AAP Recognition Day, which this year falls on February 10. Celebrated annually on the second Tuesday of February, National AAP Recognition Day highlights the importance of the AAP accreditation, as well as celebrates the achievements and contributions of AAPs nationwide.
This year, NACHA and the Regional Payments Associations, among other activities, will commemorate National AAP Recognition Day by flying a U.S. flag over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The flag then will be awarded to an AAP at the annual AAP Reception, sponsored by the Regional Payments Associations, at PAYMENTS 2015, which will be held April 19-22, 2015, in New Orleans, La. To learn more about PAYMENTS 2015, please visit https://payments.nacha.org.
Also at the conference, NACHA will honor financial institutions who are peer group leaders in various segments of the AAP benchmarking framework for 2014. NACHA will publish benchmarks using data from the top 50 Originating Depository Financial Institutions (ODFIs) and Receiving Depository Financial Institutions (RDFIs), and will collaborate with the Regional Payments Associations to develop regional market benchmarks to provide for a national picture.
For more information about NACHA’s AAP Program, please visit https://www.nacha.org//events/training/ach-professional. For more information on ways to celebrate National AAP Recognition Day, visit https://www.nacha.org/events/aap-recognition-day.
About Regional Payments Associations
Located throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam, Regional Payments Associations are in most cases not-for-profit trade associations whose main membership includes commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, and savings and loans. Through their membership in NACHA, Regional Payments Associations are specially recognized and licensed providers of ACH management, education, assistance, and services to all types of financial institutions. For more information about Regional Payments Associations, visit https://www.nacha.org/members/regional-payments-associations.
PAYMENTS 2015
PAYMENTS 2015, which is taking place April 19-22 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La., features more than 130 educational sessions and workshops with renowned speakers from financial institutions, corporations, government agencies, legal and regulatory bodies, consulting and research firms, service providers and more. Sessions are organized along seven tracks — the ACH Network, Card Payments, Digital/Mobile, End User Experience, Game Changers & Disruptors, Risk & Security and Strategy – to address the topics of pivotal importance to payments professionals. In addition, a dynamic exhibit hall of nearly 100 industry leaders features today’s top products and services.
To learn more about PAYMENTS 2015 sessions, workshops, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors, or to register, visit https://payments.nacha.org.
NACHA — The Electronic Payments Association
Since 1974, NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association has served as trustee of the ACH Network, managing the development, administration and rules for the payment network that universally connects all 12,000 financial institutions in the U.S. The Network, which moves money and information directly from one bank account to another, supports more than 90 percent of the total value of all electronic payments in the U.S. Through its collaborative, self-governing model, education, and inclusive engagement of ACH Network participants, NACHA facilitates the expansion and diversification of electronic payments, supporting Direct Deposit and Direct Payment via ACH transactions, including ACH credit and debit payments, recurring and one-time payments; government, consumer and business transactions; international payments, and payments plus payment-related information. Through NACHA’s expertise and leadership, the ACH Network is now one of the largest, safest, and most reliable systems in the world, creating value and enabling innovation for all participants. Visit https://www.nacha.org for more information.
Kendra Beasley, NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association, +1 703-561-3923, [email protected]
Share this article