SAN DIEGO—Keeping up with Nacha Rules changes can be challenging, but for her fellow payments professionals working at corporates, Lee-Ann Perkins stresses a message of self-reliance.

“As corporates, we cannot outsource compliance. We cannot outsource awareness,” said Perkins, Assistant Treasurer, Senior Director, Ankura Consulting Group. “And the reason for that is nobody knows our payments better than we do.”

Perkins stressed the need to be “ultimately accountable” for sending safe, compliant payments. “It really is our responsibility. Gone are the days when we could just say, ‘Oh, our banks didn’t tell us about that. How would we know?’ We have no excuses anymore,” she told an April 27 session at Smarter Faster Payments 2026.

Financial institutions have their own share of challenges. 

“Once the Rules pass, how do we get this information out to our corporates, our customer base,” said See Lor, SVP, ACH Operations Group Manager, U.S. Bank. Their toolbox includes articles to explain the changes, but, Lor added, “You’re putting this information out there and you hope that they see it.” Another challenge she cited is identifying and working with customers that might not be compliant with the new Rules.

Olivia Maciel, Nacha Senior Director, ACH Education and Corporate Outreach, said Nacha has a number of resources for Corporates to help ensure they have the knowledge they need for Rules compliance as well as other ACH Network matters. There are resources for treasury, finance and payroll professionals; risk management resources; resources for medical and dental practices; and webinars.

Maciel also said Nacha is also encouraging Corporates to think about things they might not ordinarily consider. That includes highlighting “potential considerations—things that you might want to think about when you’re having your internal conversations.” For example, if a fraud were to occur, “Who would be part of those mitigation discussions?” which Maciel stressed is something to discuss long before you need the answer.

The panel also agreed both corporates and financial institutions should invest in their people to make sure they have the training and other resources necessary to keep up with compliance matters. 

“Make it intentional. Make the time,” said Lor. “At the very least, partner with your risk partners. From an internal perspective, that’s all of your internal originators. Share that information.”

The Payments session was titled “Corporates and FIs: There Is More That Unites Us Than Divides Us,” and when it comes right down to it, Perkins said, that’s true.

“We’re really in the same boat,” said Perkins. “At the end of the day all we’re trying to do is make sure we’re operationally resilient, we’re able to modernize, we’re able to keep the network safe and secure, while trying to provide new options to our companies.”

“Corporates and FIs: There Is More That Unites Us Than Divides Us” will also be part of Nacha’s Smarter Faster Payments Remote Connect, June 8-10. Learn more on the conference website.