Nationwide Celebration February 12, 2013
HERNDON, VA (February 11, 2013) – On February12, 2013, NACHA — The Electronic Payments Association will partner with the Regional Payments Associations to honor the 4,000 Accredited ACH Professionals (AAPs) - including the 391 newly-accredited AAPs - as part of National AAP Recognition Day. Celebrated annually on the second Tuesday of February, AAP Recognition Day highlights the importance of the AAP accreditation, as well as celebrates the achievements and contributions of AAPs nationwide. This year, NACHA, the Regional Payments Associations, and a host of other organizations will be celebrating AAP Recognition Day in unique ways across the country.
NACHA and the Regional Payments Associations will commemorate National AAP Recognition Day by having a U.S. flag flown over the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. Additionally, AAPs will have the opportunity to be recognized at the annual AAP Reception, which will be sponsored by the Regional Payments Associations, and held during the PAYMENTS 2013 Conference, April 21-24 in San Diego, CA. This year, the flag flown over the Capitol on AAP Recognition Day will be awarded to an AAP during this event.
“National AAP Recognition Day is an opportunity for us to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of all AAPs,” said Janet O. Estep, president and CEO of NACHA. “The AAP credential is the standard of excellence in ACH payments competency. It demonstrates broad payments systems expertise, and individual and organizational commitment to compliance and sound risk management practices to support the ACH Network. Each year the Program continues to grow, validating the value AAPs provide to the organizations they serve, and the significance of the AAP credential to regulators, examiners, and customers.”
AAP accreditation establishes an individual’s credibility, professional competency, and expertise within the payments industry. Organizations with AAP-credentialed staff serve as industry leaders and the go-to organizations regarding changes to the NACHA Operating Rules and industry regulations. Organizations with AAP-credentialed staff also experience operational efficiencies, enhanced risk management oversight, improved regulatory compliance, and increased customer service and satisfaction.
To be awarded the AAP credential, individuals must pass a comprehensive exam, which is administered by NACHA each fall. The exam tests an individual’s knowledge of a variety of subjects including the NACHA Operating Rules, the ACH Network and other payments systems, technical and operational ACH requirements, risk management, and payments-related regulations. Those who pass are awarded the AAP credential, which is valid for five years. To maintain the credential, AAPs must earn 60 continuing education credits within the five-year accreditation period, with no more than 20 credits earned in any one year.
This year, AAPs can earn up to 17.4 continuing education credits by attending PAYMENTS 2013. AAPs who attend workshops offered at PAYMENTS can earn an additional 2.4 credits for each workshop attended.
For more information about the AAP Program, please visit https://www.nacha.org/edu-aap. For more information about PAYMENTS 2013 and how to register, please visit https://payments.nacha.org/.
About PAYMENTS 2013
PAYMENTS 2013, taking place April 21 – 24 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif., features more than 130 educational sessions and workshops with renowned speakers from financial institutions, companies, government agencies, legal and regulatory bodies, consulting and research firms, service providers, and more. Sessions are organized along eight tracks — Automated Clearing House (ACH), card solutions, corporate payment solutions, global focus, healthcare opportunities, mobile banking and payments, risk & compliance, and payments biz – to address the topics of pivotal importance to payments professionals. Conference threads weave hot topics across tracks and emphasize the most significant developments in legal/regulatory, corporate account takeover, remote deposit capture/remotely created checks, community banks/small business/local government opportunities, and NACHA Operating Rules and initiatives. In addition, a dynamic exhibit of nearly 100 industry leaders features today’s top products and services. To learn more about PAYMENTS 2013 sessions, workshops, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors, or to register, visit https://payments.nacha.org
About Regional Payments Associations
Located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam, Regional Payments Associations are in most cases not-for-profit trade associations whose main membership includes commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, and savings and loans. Through their membership in NACHA, Regional Payments Associations are specially recognized and licensed providers of ACH management, education, assistance, and services to all types of financial institutions. For more information about Regional Payments Associations, visit www.electronicpayments.org.
NACHA — The Electronic Payments Association
NACHA manages the development, administration, and governance of the ACH Network, the backbone for the electronic movement of money and data. The ACH Network provides a safe, secure, and reliable network for direct account-to-account consumer, business, and government payments. Annually, it facilitates billions of Direct Deposit via ACH and Direct Payment via ACH transactions. Used by all types of financial institutions, the ACH Network is governed by the fair and equitable NACHA Operating Rules, which guide risk management and create payment certainty for all participants. As a not-for-profit association, NACHA represents more than 10,000 financial institutions via 17 regional payments associations and direct membership. Through its industry councils and forums, NACHA brings together payments system stakeholders to foster dialogue and innovation to strengthen the ACH Network. To learn more, please visit www.nacha.org, www.electronicpayments.org, www.payitgreen.org, and direct.nacha.org.