Methods and apparatus for processing electronic checks

Abstract

Methods according to the invention include accepting e-check data input from a payer, parsing the data to determine the bank routing number and the ostensible checking account number, determining the correct number of checking account digits based on the bank routing number, determining whether the ostensible checking account number has the correct number of digits, and prompting the payer to re-enter the checking account number with the correct number of digits if necessary. In addition, the methods include automatically pre-pending and/or appending zero digits where necessary to correct the number of digits in the checking account number. In cases where the payer includes the check number as part of the account number, the methods include removing the check number from the account number by prompting the payer to enter the check number so that it can be deleted from the account number. The methods also reduce NSF returns by comparing account numbers to a negative list to determine whether the account has a history of NSF returns and by automatically re-presenting NSF returns on the next four business days following the return.