Check Image Cash Letter Return Codes
This list is abstracted from the document X9.100-187–2013 - Electronic Exchange of Check and Image Data, Developed by Accredited Standards Committee X9, Incorporated Financial Industry Standards and published by ANSI - American National Standards Institute.
The tables below identify all return Reason Codes used in this standard. Some return reason codes and descriptions are used for both Customer/Monetary and Administrative returns and have the same meaning. Return Reason codes are indicated in the Return Record (Type 31), and in the Return Addendum D Record (Type 35). The Return Reason may also be carried on a Check Detail Addendum C Record (Type 28) associated with a previously returned and represented item.
There are two codes (‘I’ and ‘Q’) that are used in both Customer/Monetary and Administrative returns with different meanings.
Customer / “Monetary” Returns
A Customer Return code distinguishes to the presenting bank the reason for non-payment when an item is dishonored. Customer / “Monetary” Returns items are usually charged to a customer account. Examples are NSF, stop pay, closed account, etc.
The following return codes are used when the Returns Indicator (Field 14) in Cash Letter Header Record (Type 10) is equal to ‘R’.
Return Code |
Became Effective |
Meaning |
A |
NSF - Not Sufficient Funds | |
B |
UCF - Uncollected Funds Hold | |
C |
Stop Payment | |
D |
Closed Account | |
E |
UTLA - Unable to Locate Account | |
F |
Frozen/Blocked Account–Account has Restrictions placed on it by either customer or bank | |
G |
Stale Dated | |
H |
Post Dated | |
I |
Endorsement Missing | |
J |
Endorsement Irregular | |
K |
Signature(s) Missing | |
L |
Signature(s) Irregular, Suspected Forgery | |
M |
Non-Cash Item (Non Negotiable) | |
N |
Altered/Fictitious Item/Suspected Counterfeit/Counterfeit | |
O |
Unable to Process (e.g. Unable to process physical item/Mutilated such that critical payment information is missing). This code shall not be used for unusable images or system problems (see Administrative code ‘U’) | |
P |
Item Exceeds Stated Max Value | |
Q |
Not Authorized (Includes Drafts)–Unauthorized item such as a draft | |
R |
Branch/Account Sold (Wrong Bank)–Divested Account, Not Our Item | |
S |
Refer to Maker | |
T |
12/20/2014 |
Item cannot be re-presented (Exceeds number of allowable times the item can be presented) |
U |
12/20/2014 |
Unusable Image (Image could not be used for required business purpose, e.g. gross image defects, illegible, etc.) |
W |
Cannot Determine Amount–Amount cannot be verified | |
X |
Refer to Image–Return Reason information is contained within the image of the item. | |
Y |
12/20/2014 |
Duplicate Presentment (Supporting documentation shall be readily available)1 |
Z |
Forgery–An affidavit shall be available upon request | |
3 |
Warranty Breach (Includes Rule 8 & 9 claims) | |
4 |
12/20/2014 |
RCC Warranty Breach (Rule 8)1 |
5 |
12/20/2014 |
Forged and Counterfeit Warranty Breach (Rule 9)1 |
6 |
12/20/2014 |
Retired/Ineligible Routing Number1 |
7 |
Reserved for Future Use by X9 | |
8 |
Reserved for Future Use by X9 | |
9 |
Reserved for Future Use by X9 | |
0 |
Reserved for Future Use by X9 |
Administrative Returns
An Administrative Return (“Reason”) code distinguishes to the presenting bank an item returned for reasons other than a dishonored item. Administrative Return items are usually handled internally by the presenting bank rather than being charged to a customer. These types of items can also be handled through the adjustment process. Examples include poor quality image, ineligible items, etc.
The following return codes are used when the Returns Indicator (Field 14) in Cash Letter Header Record (Type 10) is equal to ‘E’.
Return Code |
Became Effective |
Meaning |
I |
Image Missing | |
Q |
Ineligible | |
T |
12/20/2014 |
Item cannot be re-presented (Exceeds number of allowed times the item can be presented) |
U |
Unusable Image (Image could not be used for required business purpose e.g. gross image defects, illegible, etc.) | |
V |
Image Fails Security Check | |
Y |
Duplicate Presentment (Supporting documentation shall be readily available) | |
1 |
Does not conform with ANSI X9.100-181 Specification for TIFF Image Format for Image Exchange standard | |
2 |
Does not conform to the Industry’s Universal Companion Document | |
3 |
Warranty Breach (includes Rule 8 & 9 claims) | |
4 |
12/20/2014 |
RCC Warranty Breach (Rule 8)1 |
5 |
12/20/2014 |
Forged and Counterfeit Warranty Breach (Rule 9)1 |
6 |
12/20/2014 |
Retired / Ineligible Routing Number1 |
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