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value of membership

ACH has become so much more than direct deposits and direct payments. Now, with electronic check conversion and other e-Check applications, the rules and requirements for handling electronic payments can seem overwhelming and situations can be complicated. That's why having a team of ACH professionals on your side is worth its weight in gold! We provide training and expertise on all payment systems including checks, cards, wire and, of course, ACH. WACHA truly is your Premier Payments Resource.

Learn about each category of membership we offer including Vendor, Corporate, Municipality, and more. Click here to view category information.

WACHA membership brings with it advantages and privileges that you would not otherwise have. Here are just a few of the resources available to WACHA's members:

1. WACHA's Staff of AAPs

   WACHA membership gives you access to WACHA's staff of Accredited ACH Professionals (AAPs). Regardless of whether you're a financial institution who receives and/or originates transactions on behalf of a customer, or an originating company, or even a vendor, WACHA's knowledgeable staff is here to answer all your questions and to help you resolve ACH network issues.

2. Industry Updates

   Through its bi-monthly newsletter, training sessions, annual conference and special symposiums, WACHA helps its members stay abreast of the latest industry innovations. As an example, with the passage of the Check 21 Act, WACHA paved the way by taking a leadership role during a confusing time and offering educational sessions, marketing and operational materials and advice to help its members (and their customers) better understand the impact this legislation would have on the industry. We continue to monitor the check imaging technology in order to keep our members well informed on what options and services are available to them.

3. WACHA's website

   Throughout this publication we'll be referring you to WACHA's website. Outside of the WACHA staff, this is one of our most valuable resources. Almost everything you need as a WACHA Member can be found on the website. For example, available on the website is information on WACHA's training opportunities and registration forms, Membership information, publications available and order forms, conference registrations, information regarding WACHA's Audit Services and information about the WACHA staff and Board of Directors. From there you can link to WACHA's 'Members Only' page which provides access to the ABA Look-up, the ACH Rules Online, ACH Rules Updates, FAQs, forms and agreements, fraud information, links to other helpful websites, NACHA council information and NewsWire, WACHA's newsletter archive, and a list of preferred vendors. An important recent addition to our 'Members Only' page is a link to NACHA's bi-monthly Risk Management Newsletter featuring (among other things) case studies, statistics and risk bulletins.

4. Training Programs

   WACHA offers quite a variety of training opportunities to keep you abreast of industry changes as well as (and just as important) training your operations personnel on the ACH Rules and requirements. Not only do we offer in-person training at a number of locations around the state, we also offer interactive Web/Telephone (webinar) training where your personnel can participate from the comfort of your own offices. With regard to ACH training, the season begins with those courses that address ACH fundamentals. From there, the courses move into more detailed topics and end with high level issues. These courses are offered in the Spring and usually repeated in the Fall. During those months when the weather is inclement, we fill in the curriculum with webinars. WACHA members can take advantage of WACHA training opportunities at greatly discounted prices. Click here for a list of all training scheduled for the year.

5. Publications

   A wide variety of published materials are available for purchase to help our members with the day-to-day issues involved with participation as an originator or receiver of electronic payments. In addition, published materials to help educate the consumer on ACH and electronic payments are also available for purchase. Many of these materials were developed by WACHA and were designed to meet our members' specific needs. Publications such as our Returns/Retention Quick Reference Cards, consumer educational brochures, ACH Procedures Manual templates, Check 21 educational and operational materials and a variety of promotional materials will be invaluable to you once you become an active participant in the ACH network. Click here for a complete list of publications available for purchase.

6. On-site, Customized Training

   So you say it's impossible to get [all those individuals who should be trained] to WACHA's in person training and you're not available for the webinar training? We've got another alternative. How about on-site training customized to your specific training needs? WACHA's staff is available to provide this customized training when and where you want it; before, during or after regular business hours. We can train you on one specific topic, or on several. The content, length, time and location is entirely up to you. To arrange for customized, on-site training, contact WACHA's president, Mary Gilmeister at (800) 453-1843 or email her at mgilmeister@wacha.org.

7. Audit Guide

   The ACH Rules require that every participant in the ACH network complete an ACH audit by December 1st of each year. WACHA has developed an Audit Guide to assist you with this requirement. The Audit Guide takes you step-by-step through the audit process and is updated each year to incorporate the latest ACH rule changes to ensure that members are in compliance with all current requirements. The Audit Guide is available online through WACHA and can be customized by each user. Or, if you prefer, a hard copy document can be produced. The choice is yours. Click here to place an order for the Audit Guide.

8. Audit Services

   An ever-growing number of WACHA's members prefer to use the WACHA staff (the ACH authorities) to complete their ACH audit each year. In fact, WACHA trains the FDIC and State Examiners on what to look for during an audit and has received the endorsement of the Department of Financial Institutions Bank Examiners and the Wisconsin Bankers Association. What better qualifications can you ask for than that? WACHA can perform an audit on site and on-schedule quickly (usually within 8 hours) at a very reasonable rate. But more than that, while conducting the audit, the WACHA staff identifies internal problems and recommends solutions, trains your staff on what to look for and alerts them to possible non-compliance issues. At the conclusion of the audit, WACHA will prepare a detailed report of our findings and create a comprehensive, actionable audit report. So having your audit performed by WACHA gives you peace of mind and helps ensure that, if you should be audited, you'll pass with flying colors. To arrange for an audit, contact Luann Kohlmann at the WACHA office. Click here for more information on WACHA's audit services.

9. WACHA's Annual Conference

   Once each year WACHA sponsors a multi-day conference for its members during which the industry's leading ACH authorities and vendors are brought together to bring you up to speed on what is happening in the industry. Although this conference is open to non-members as well as members, just as with our other training opportunities, WACHA members can participate and receive greatly discounted registration fees. WACHA's last conference featured more than 20 sessions and an exhibit hall featuring 34 vendor booths. This is one of the largest conferences of its type and is, we're told, a truly rewarding experience for all who participate. Click here for more information on WACHA's conference.

10. WACHA's Membership Fees

    Unlike some other organizations who dedicate a percentage of their membership fees to lobbying interests, 100% of the membership fee that you pay to WACHA goes toward the programs and services WACHA offers. This means that every action we take, every service we offer is solely dedicated to the best interests of our members. WACHA is a not-for-profit organization and we are proud to say we have not increased the fee that our members pay in more than five years! Service is our business - so don't hesitate to take advantage of the resources we offer.

"We have been WACHA members for years and use your training and website continually. I am very pleased with the service we get and the response we get with every question!"

Nancy Cronin at Mid-America Bank in Janesville, WI