Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The function of the File Control Record within an ACH file is to summarize control totals and indicate the termination of the file. This record serves as a vital component of the overall ACH file structure, providing essential information that helps ensure the integrity and accuracy of the file as it is processed.

At the end of an ACH file, the File Control Record is used to report the number of batches included, the total number of entries, and the combined dollar amount of those entries. This information acts as a form of reconciliation, helping both the Originating Depository Financial Institution (ODFI) and the Receiving Depository Financial Institution (RDFI) verify that all the transactions intended to be sent are accounted for and that no entries are missing or duplicated.

In summary, the File Control Record is crucial because it encapsulates summary statistics about the contents of the entire ACH file, ensuring that the data handling process adheres to the required standards for accuracy and transparency.