Prenotification (prenote) sends a $0 ACH entry to validate account details before live debits. The customer’s bank must return any failures within two business days; absent a return, the account is deemed valid.

Prerequisites & Limitations

Merchant profile must have prenote capability enabled
Requires accurate account and routing numbers at submission
Introduces a minimum two-business-day delay before live debits

Compliance / Regulation Mandates

Nacha Rules

RDFIs must return invalid prenotes within two business days.

Mandate Validation

Prenote serves as a supplemental authorization check under Nacha Operating Rules.

Good-Funds Model

Prenotes carry no dollar value but confirm routing path and account status.

Prenote

A prenote is a special ACH entry with an amount of $0, sent solely to verify that the account and routing numbers are correct. It does not move funds.

Submission: Initiate a prenote just like a normal debit, specifying "amount": 0.
Return Window: The Receiving Depository Financial Institution (RDFI) must return invalid prenotes (e.g., closed account, invalid routing) within two business days.
Success Criteria: If no return message is received by the end of the second business day, treat the account as valid and proceed with live debits.
Failure Handling: Any prenote return (e.g., R03 – No Account, R04 – Invalid Account Number, R02 – Account Closed) should trigger automated alerts or require manual intervention to correct customer details.

When to Use Prenotes: Use prenotes when you need broad bank coverage and cannot rely on instant EWS verification. Ideal for B2B scenarios where a two-day setup window is acceptable and cost per check is minimal.

Integration Tip

Schedule prenotes early in your onboarding flow and implement fallbacks (micro-deposits) if no response is received within three business days, ensuring you don’t block customers indefinitely.