Set up a for bank file and ACH payments

Create a new or edit an existing one to enable support for direct payments to vendors and employees using bank files.

View a list of your checking accounts

  • Go to Cash Management > All or Setup > Accounts > Checking.

From the list, you can add, edit, and view a .

Add a new

  1. Go to Cash Management > Setup > Accounts and select Add (circle) next to Checking.

  2. Add the required information on the tabs for the account.

Edit a for bank file payments

You can edit an existing to support bank file and ACH payments. Some fields are required for specific file formats that are otherwise optional.

Permissions and other requirements

Subscription

Cash Management

Sage Cloud Services
Regional availability

Bank file payments are only available between banks that use the same currency in the following countries:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • France
  • Ireland
  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
User type

Business user with admin privileges
Permissions

Cash Management

  • Checking accounts: List, View, Edit
Configuration

ISO country codes are enabled.

Bank file payment option selected in Sage Cloud Services.

See Configure Sage Cloud Services for details.
Tip

Designate Accounts Payable journals.
Restrictions

Bank file payments are only available between banks that use the same currency.

  1. Go to Cash Management > All or Setup > Accounts > Checking.

  2. Find the account you want to edit.

  3. Select Edit at the end of the row.

  4. On the Details tab, in the section, enter or modify the following required information:

    Details tab field descriptions
    Field Description

    Account ID

    Required if creating a new .

    Account number

    Enter the account number of this .

    Bank name

    Enter the name of the bank.

    Name on the account

    Enter the name of the holder. This is the legal name associated with the account.

    Country

    The country in which the bank is located. Determines the bank file format used to make bank file payments.

    Currency

    The currency in which the operates.

    Ensure that your currency matches the country you select for the . For example, in Australia, select AUD. In the United Kingdom, select GBP.

  5. In the accounting information section, enter or modify the following required fields:

    Accounting information section Accounting information section
    Field Description

    GL account

    Select a General Ledger account.

    Location ID

    Select the location ID of the entity with which this is associated.
  6. On the Bank file tab, select Enable bank file payments.

  7. In the Bank setup section, select the Bank file format that matches the bank you defined in the Details tab.

    To use the NACHA ACH file, select one of the formats that start with NACHA - Unbalanced.

    Make a note of the bank file format that you select here, as you'll need to select the same bank file format when filling in details for the vendor.

  8. Fill in the remaining required fields.

    These are for the bank file required for the location of your , as shown in Details: Bank file setup.

  9. Save your changes.

  1. Go to Cash Management > All or Setup > Accounts > Checking.

  2. Find the account and select Edit.

  3. On the Details tab, in the section, enter or modify the following required information:

    Details tab field descriptions
    Field Description

    Account ID

    Required if creating a new .

    Account number

    Enter the account number of this .

    Bank name

    Enter the name of the bank.

    Name on the account

    Enter the name of the holder. This is the legal name associated with the account.

    Country

    The country in which the bank is located. Determines the bank file format used to make bank file payments.

    Currency

    The currency in which the operates.

    Ensure that your currency matches the country you select for the . For example, in Australia, select AUD. In the United Kingdom, select GBP.

  4. In the accounting information section, enter or modify the following required fields:

    Accounting information section Accounting information section
    Field Description

    GL account

    Select a General Ledger account.

    Location ID

    Select the location ID of the entity with which this is associated.
  5. On the Bank file tab, select Enable bank file payments.

  6. In the Bank setup section, select the Bank file format that matches the bank you defined in the Details tab.

    To use the NACHA ACH file, select one of the formats that start with NACHA - Unbalanced.

    Make a note of the bank file format that you select here, as you'll need to select the same bank file format when filling in details for the vendor.

  7. Fill in the remaining required fields.

    These are for the bank file required for the location of your , as shown in Details: Bank file setup.

  8. Save your changes.

Next step: Set up a vendor for bank file and ACH payments

Field descriptions

Details tab

section

field descriptions
Field Description

ID

Enter a unique identifier that quickly reminds you of this account's purpose and differentiates it from other checking accounts.

After you save, this field cannot be edited.

Learn best practices for Name and ID creation.

This field is required for bank file payments. About bank files.

Account number

Enter the account number for this bank account. This is the account number that's found at the bottom of the check.

Avoid changing the account number because you’ll need to retain bank account information for auditing purposes. Instead, create a different and change the status of the original to Inactive.

If you use this account to pay for your Sage Intacct services, you can't change the Account number.

This field is required for bank file payments. About bank files.

Bank name

If you have more than one account at this bank, include something descriptive in the name, such as "Wells Fargo-Payroll Checking".

Learn best practices for Name and ID creation.

This field is required for bank file payments. About bank files.

Name on the account

The official name that the bank has on file for the (not the Account ID). For example, Acme Inc. might be the name on file at your bank for an account.

This field is required for bank file payments. About bank files.

Routing number

An account number and routing number are needed for issuing payments from this account, regardless of the payment method.

If you’re printing on blank check stock, the routing number is a 9-digit number printed at the bottom of the check.

If you're uncertain what your routing number is, contact your bank.

Branch ID

Find this number at the top of your check, above the area where you write the date.

This is where you can enter a transit fractional number to print on blank check stock.

Country

Enter the country where the bank is located.

This field is required for bank file payments. About bank files.

Address line 1

Enter your bank's address.

Address line 2

Enter your bank's address.

Address line 3

Enter your bank's address.

City

Enter the city where the bank is located.

State or territory

Enter the state or territory where the bank is located.

This field is populated with a list of states, provinces, or territories based on the country selected above.

ZIP or post code

Enter the postal code of the bank.

Phone number

Enter the phone number of your bank branch.

Status

To hide an account that you're no longer using from menus and dropdown lists, select Inactive.

If you use this account to pay for your Intacct services, you can't select Inactive.

Records designated as Inactive do not appear in the list by default. To view these records, select Filters at the top of the list and select Remove next to the Status filter to remove it.

To view inactive bank accounts in lists, select Include inactive.

Currency

This field is required for multi-currency companies and cannot be edited.

The default is the base currency under the assumption that most bank accounts are relatively local. However, if you deal with foreign banks, choose their currency instead. For information about adding a transaction currency, see Customize or edit a currency.

When using bank files to make payments, make sure that the Currency field matches the Country field. For example, if you select United Kingdom, you would select GBP as the currency for the .

Reconciliation match sequence section

Reconciliation match sequence field descriptions
Field Description

Match sequence

Select a match sequence for reconciliation. This is a document sequence that tracks matches in reconciliation.

For example, if you match one bank transaction and two Intacct transactions, all three transactions are assigned to the same sequence. Sequences are alphabetic.

Learn more about reconciliation match sequences.

Require match sequence for

Choose whether to assign a match sequence to automatically matched transactions, manually matched transactions, or both.

Automatically matched transactions: Require a match sequence only for transactions that were matched automatically with a rule set.

Manually matched transactions: Require a match sequence only for transactions that were manually matched.

Accounting information section

Accounting information field descriptions
Field Description

GL account

After you save, this field cannot be edited. How you assign GL accounts determines how and where an account can be used.

Use a unique GL account. You cannot save the account in the following situations:

  • You select an account configured as the default Accounts Payable or default Accounts Receivable account. As a best practice, select a cash, cash equivalent, or credit card liability account.
  • The GL account is assigned to another bank or credit card account.

Default payables GL journal

Default receivables GL journal

To record payments (and transfers) you make out of the account and deposits (and transfers) into the account, select a journal.

The default is the same journal used for Accounts Payable payments, which you can change on the Configure Accounts Payable page.

If you selected dual-method reporting, choose a journal that's both cash and accrual. Whether you’re disbursing or depositing funds, the transaction must be entered in both journals.

Service charge GL account

Interest earned GL account

These fields are used only for reconciliation.

During reconciliation you can enter service charges (and other fees), and interest. Typically, you post these items to the same account. You can choose a default account for them so that you can track them separately, and not have to specify their account manually during reconciliation.

However, this is not a required field, and you can enter the account manually during reconciliation. You can also override a default account that you do set here later when you enter these transactions in the reconciliation process.

Department ID

Location ID

If your company uses them, you can select a department and location combination to default for GL posting.

Depending on your company, a location might be required to enforce balancing of associated journal entries. Learn more about dimension settings in the General Ledger.

After you save, this field cannot be edited.

Last reconciled balance

Last reconciled date

These read-only fields show the results of your last reconciliation for the account. If you've never reconciled the account, these fields are blank.

Cut-off date

Enter the date after which reconciliation can begin.

This field appears for accounts that have never been previously reconciled in Intacct and is removed after the first reconciliation.

Applied rule set

The rule set this account uses to match incoming transactions for reconciliation from a bank feed or import file. You can't reconcile an account with a bank feed or import file without a rule set.

Learn more about rule sets.

Banking cloud time zone

Determine the time stamp for transactions generated from creation rules and incoming bank feed transactions.

If you do not set a banking cloud time zone, the time zone on your My preferences page is used. If there's no time zone specified on the My preferences page, the time zone on the Company information page is used.

Disable inter-entity transfers

For multi-entity shared companies when inter-entity transfers (IET) are enabled.

Prevents inter-entity transactions from being created in the General Ledger for subledger transactions. Transactions for this account that are entered directly in the General Ledger still create inter-entity transactions.

Reconcile

This link takes you to the Reconciliation page for this account, if it has not been reconciled.

Bank file tab

Fields are listed by country. The file format that you select determines the fields that appear.

Australia

Bank file account setup field descriptions Bank file account setup field descriptions
Field Description

Bank file format

Choose the bank file format of the bank that is associated with this .

Sage Intacct supports bank file payments for 92 Australian banks.

Generic bank file formats:

  • Generic ABA with balancing entry
  • Generic ABA without balancing entry

Specific bank file formats:

  • ABA-NAB
  • ABA-ANZ
  • ABA-Westpac
  • ABA-Commonwealth

Sage Intacct supports the use of both current and future multiple payment dates for payment requests sent to Australian banks, and generates a separate bank file for each payment date.

Learn more about About bank files.

Bank code
  • If you select a generic bank file format, select your bank from the dropdown menu.
  • If you select a specific bank file format, this field is prefilled with the bank name that matches the bank file format.

APCA number

Enter the unique six-digit number that identifies the company or individual. The APCA number is used by Australian banks to make direct payments.

BSB number

Enter the six-digit number used to identify the particular branch of the Australian bank, three digits, followed by a hyphen, and three more digits.

Canada

Bank file account setup field descriptions
Field Description

Bank file format

Choose the bank file format of the bank that is associated with this .

Sage Intacct supports bank file payments for the following Canadian banks:

Specific bank file formats:

  • Bank of Montreal
  • BNS Scotiabank
  • Royal Bank of Canada
  • TD Bank

Learn more about About bank files.

Assigned originator ID

Enter the Originator ID that was assigned by the bank that's processing the file. This is a maximum 10 character alphanumeric field.

Processing data center

Enter the 5-digit data center processing code of the bank.

Originator bank number

Enter the 3-digit bank number for the originating bank account.

Account ID for returns

Enter the debtor account number for returns. This is a maximum 12 character alphanumeric field.

Originator branch transit number

Enter the 5-digit branch transit number for the originating bank.

FSN (File sequence number)

Enter a 4-digit file sequence number to start the bank file sequence with your bank. This number is like a check sequence number.

  • If your company has been using an integrated solution to process bank files with Canadian banks, you'll enter the next number in the sequence with your bank. Make sure to include leading zeroes to make it a 4-digit sequence.

  • If your company is new to using Canadian bank files, this number will be 0001.

France

Bank file account setup field descriptions
Field Description

Bank file format

Choose the bank file format of the bank that is associated with this .

Generic bank file formats:

  • Generic-SEPA

Learn more about About bank files.

Originator identification number

The SEPA Originator ID, your unique identifier number used when submitting SEPA files for processing.

Debtor BIC

Enter the Bank Identifier Code for the account. This is a unique identifier assigned by SWIFT for international payment processing.

Ireland

Bank file account setup field descriptions
Field Description

Bank file format

Choose the bank file format of the bank that is associated with this .

Generic bank file formats:

  • Generic-SEPA

Learn more about About bank files.

Originator identification number

The SEPA Originator ID, your unique identifier number used when submitting SEPA files for processing.

Debtor BIC

Enter the Bank Identifier Code for the account. This is a unique identifier assigned by SWIFT for international payment processing.

South Africa

Bank file account setup field descriptions
Field Description

Bank file format

Choose the bank file format of the bank that is associated with this .

Sage Intacct currently supports the following banks in South Africa:

  • ABSA Barclay's
  • ABSA Business Integrator Online
  • First National Bank
  • Nedbank
  • Standard Bank

    Use the NAMPAY SSVS Pre Format file to use a creditor code instead of the homing account name and number.

Learn more about About bank files.

User nominated branch

Enter the six-digit Standard Bank branch code for the account from which payments are made.

Branch code

Enter the six-digit Standard Bank branch code for the account from which payments are made.

Debit account branch code

Enter the six-digit FNB bank account branch code from which payments are made.

NedBank seed value

Enter the 32 character NedBank seed value for the account from which payments are made.

From branch code

Enter the six-digit ABSA branch code for the account from which payments are made.

User reference

Enter the reference that's used on bank statements. This is a 10 character value that's supplied by Standard Bank.

The format of this code is SBXXSHRTNA, composed of the following:

  • SB = 2 characters to indicate the bank code, which is always SB.

  • PISP code = 2 characters (AN), if no PISP code is applicable then populate with XX.

  • SHRTNA = Short name of the ordering customer, with a maximum length of 6 characters.

Client user code

Enter the user code that identifies the client to Standard Bank.

This field can either contain the ACB code provided by Bankserv or a user defined code that is mapped to the ACB code by Standard Bank. The value provided in this field must match the user code linked to your profile on Business Online.

Type of service

Select the type of Standard Bank BEFT service to use.

United Kingdom

Bank file account setup field descriptions
Field Description

Bank file format

Choose the bank file format of the bank that is associated with this .

Sage Intacct supports the following banks in the United Kingdom:

  • Barclays
  • HSBC
  • Lloyds
  • Natwest
  • Santander
  • Virgin Bank

Learn more About bank files.

Important notes regarding UK payment dates:

  • HSBC requires the payment date for all bank files to be valid. This means that the payment date falls on a regular work day in the UK. HSBC doesn’t process bank files with a payment date that falls on a public or bank holiday. Attempts to process a bank file with a payment date of a public or bank holiday will result in error. Verify Bacs processing dates at the Bacs website.
  • Barclay's and Virgin Bank do not support future payment dates at this time.

  • All other supported UK banks (HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest, and Santander) support future payment dates.

    • Lloyds, Natwest, and Santander support multiple payment dates per file, both future and current, with a specific batch for each payment date in the bank file.
    • HSBC supports the use of multiple payment dates, both future and current, and Sage Intacct generates a separate bank file for each payment date.

Debit sort code

A six-digit number identifying the bank and branch where the is held.

This field is only displayed for those banks that require it.

Service user number

Optional. A unique identifier for organizations that collect payment with bank files. The service user number, together with the bank file, creates a record of the transaction.

This optional field is displayed only when selecting the HSBC file format. For HSBC customers only.

United States ACH

Bank file account setup field descriptions
Field Description

Bank file format

Choose the bank file format of the bank that is associated with this .

Sage Intacct supports the following NACHA ACH files:

  • Balanced with EOF marker

  • Balanced without EOF marker

  • Unbalanced with EOF marker

  • Unbalanced without EOF marker

Learn more About bank files.

ABA routing number

Your bank's routing number. Enter up to 9 characters.

Immediate origin ID

Your 10-digit company number, including hyphens, as specified by your bank.

Immediate destination name

Your company name, as specified by your bank.

Immediate origin name

Your company name, as specified by your bank.

Debtor company name

The name of your company on the account.

If you have more than one with the bank, the bank might request that you enter a different company name for each account. This is the name that appears on the recipient's bank statement.

Payment sequence number

Unique numbering sequence used to automatically number payment batches. Numbers must be 7 digits with no prefixes or suffixes.

If you're transitioning from standard ACH payments to NACHA ACH files, the number here should be a continuation of your ACH payment numbers with your bank.

File ID modifier

This is a character within the file header record that helps distinguish multiple files created on the same date by the same originator. Typically, the first file of the day uses A, the second B, and so on.

While setting the bank file details for the account, you can give A as a starting point. Intacct then increments on a daily basis and resets to A on the following day.

Company entry description

Text (up to 10 characters) that should be included with payments. NACHA-compliant files require this field.

Valid values:

  • PAYROLL

  • PURCHASE

More countries coming soon

We're expanding bank file payments to support more countries. Check the release notes for updates on when new countries are supported.