On Thursday, May 27, 2010, the NACHA Voting Membership approved the following ballot:
• #2-10: Mobile ACH Payments – Effective January 1, 2011.
Ballot #2-10 was approved with 97.4 percent of the weighted votes cast in favor (9,276 votes in
favor out of 9,521 cast). Thirty-eight of the forty-two voting members cast votes in favor of the
ballot and 1 voted against.
The Mobile ACH Payments Rule ("Rule") will establish a framework in the NACHA Operating Rules ("Rules") for mobile-initiated ACH debit payments. The Rule will expand the definition of Internet-Initiated Entries (WEB) to include ACH debits authorized and/or initiated via wireless networks and require that those payments utilize the WEB Standard Entry Class (SEC) Code.
Because mobile payments have only recently emerged, the Rules do not currently address them specifically. Many companies, however, are either originating these payments over the ACH Network already or plan to in the near future. Including mobile payments within the definition of WEB will provide a framework in the Rules for the proper authorization and authentication of these payments, and extend the security and risk management provisions of WEB to mobile payments.
NACHA has intentionally kept this Rule narrowly focused on providing clarification to the industry on which SEC Code to use for mobile payments and to apply the authorization, risk management, and security provisions of WEB to mobile payments. At the same time, NACHA recognizes that the mobile channel is a distinct delivery channel for payments with unique characteristics that may warrant additional rules in the future. This Rule aims to balance the need to mitigate the risks of mobile ACH payments with the desire to remain flexible and to avoid prematurely adopting rules that might create unnecessary barriers to entry and/or stifle innovation and growth in the mobile payment industry.
In the longer-term, NACHA will continue to monitor, evaluate, and analyze mobile ACH payments and their impact upon the ACH Network.