Members use project teams to collaborate and influence existing and emerging payment trends, drive change, remove barriers and support innovation. Deliverables from Alliance initiatives include creating resources and tools, developing best practices and testing proof of concepts – ultimately shaping the future of payments.

The Alliance welcomes new project team members and the collaboration of ideas. To join a project team, you must be an Alliance member in good standing and be able to participate consistently during scheduled meetings. Project teams typically meet monthly via conference call and in-person at the winter and fall Alliance meetings. Continue scrolling down to learn more about each of our active initiatives and contact us to join a team.

This team published a web resource for developers who need to code to the Nacha Operating Rules format, but are not Rules experts. The Guide for Developers includes background information on the ACH Network, ACH file formats, scenarios for using specific data elements, and information on where to find additional details in the Rules. This project team meets quarterly and continues to review, edit and enhance the content.

Consumer fraud is growing each year, impacting consumers of all ages with a disproportionate impact on older consumers.  The Federal Trade Commission data shows that consumers reported losing more than $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021, an increase of more than 70% over the previous year.  According to Consumer Affairs more than 3.5 million older people are swindled out of more than $3 billion each year.

This project team will create educational materials, resources and tools to enable the industry to fight financial fraud. The group will also work with the financial crimes ecosystem, including law enforcement and consumer advocacy groups, to amplify networking and collaboration.

In 2022, the average cost of a data breach globally hit $4.35 million according to Statista. The Cybersecurity Response Project Team develops tools and resources to help organizations understand evolving threats related to potential cyberattacks. 

The team is creating a Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise for companies and other organizations to use as an internal exercise with their employees to prepare for responding to a data breach.  The Exercise is designed to be completed in less than 3 hours and will include a Leaders’ Guide for running the Exercise and key points for discussion.  

The Exercise does not require prior cybersecurity knowledge and will introduce the participants to key concepts, tools and considerations to help foster discussion about how participants’ organizations can be better prepared for a cybersecurity event.  The Exercise will be distributed by the Alliance and may be provided by Payment Associations, financial institutions and other members of the payment ecosystem to their customers and members as part of the industry-wide effort to prevent cybercrime.

Previously, the team developed a template providing guidance and considerations to organizations as they respond to security incidents. Download the Security Incident Response Timeline. The team also published a top 10 list of COVID-19 Best Fraud Prevention and Cybersecurity Practices and helped develop a series of Executive Briefs addressing conversational payments.

This team, in collaboration with the U.S. Faster Payments Council, is developing tools for financial institutions and business end users that are seeking direction and clarity on faster payments. Previously, the team published the Faster Payments Playbook and Faster Payments 101 for financial institutions. Currently, the team is developing an interactive resource for corporates. 

This team, launching in April 2023, will explore the digital and physical world implications of money and asset movement.