R56 ACH Return Code: Incorrect Bank Account Information

What Causes ACH Return Code R56?

The R56 ACH return code means "Incorrect Bank Account Information" and indicates that the bank account details provided for the transaction don't match the receiving bank's records. This return occurs when there are discrepancies in the account information that prevent the receiving bank from properly identifying or accessing the intended account.

Unlike more specific return codes like R03 (No Account/Unable to Locate Account) or R04 (Invalid Account Number), R56 appears to be a broader category for general account information errors. However, this return code is rarely encountered in modern ACH processing, as most banks now use more specific return codes to identify particular types of account data errors.

Can You Retry R56 Payments?

You can retry R56 payments after correcting the incorrect bank account information. Before reprocessing, verify all account details including account number, routing number, and account type with the recipient. Since this return indicates a data accuracy issue rather than authorization or funds availability problems, correcting the information should resolve the issue.

How to respond

An R56 return requires immediate verification and correction of the bank account information provided, followed by careful validation before reprocessing the payment.

When receiving payments

Contact Customer Immediately
Reach out to verify and update their bank account information, including account number, routing number, and account type.
Double-Check All Details
Verify the routing number corresponds to the correct bank and that the account number format is valid for that institution.
Validate Account Type
Confirm whether the account is checking or savings, as this affects how the transaction is processed.
Update Records Before Retry
Correct all account information in your system before attempting to reprocess the payment.

When sending payments

An R56 return on vendor payments means the account information you have on file for the vendor is incorrect. This requires immediate contact with the vendor to verify and update their banking details before reprocessing payment.

Contact the vendor immediately to verify their current bank account information
Request they provide account details in writing or through a secure portal
Validate the routing number and account format before updating your records
Process a test transaction for a small amount to verify the corrected information works

Email template

From: [Your Company Name] <[your-email]>
To: [Customer Name] <[customer-email]>
Subject: Payment Issue - Bank Account Information Needed

Hi [Customer Name],

We encountered an issue processing your recent payment due to incorrect bank account information in our system.

To resolve this, we'll need you to verify and provide the correct details for your bank account:

Complete account number
Bank routing number
Account type (checking or savings)

Once we have the updated information, we'll process your payment again. Please reply to this email or call us at [phone number] with the correct details.

Thanks for your help in resolving this quickly.

[Your Company Name]