Account Validation

Overview

The Account Validation API enables you to prevent fraud and securely verify account ownership and status before sending a payment. With a few key details, your applications can validate customer account informationt, and/or account ownership so you can complete safe and secure transactions.

Features

Initiate an inquiry.

Validate account details for personal or business accounts, such as account number and routing number.

Access the Nationally Shared Database Resource.

Access and verify account ownership of checking and savings accounts with data from thousands of trusted financial institutions.

Use one of three account validation responses.

Basic response (recommended)

• Returns account status based on routing and account numbers and ownership verification including an overall match score.
• A fast and simple way to validate customers that doesn't require compliance to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Translated response

• Returns account status based on routing and account numbers and ownership verification including an overall match score.
• Includes recommendations from U.S. Bank for credit and debit transactions and required actions based on account ownership.
• A response that translates data from Early Warning Systems (EWS) based on specific business rules.

Detailed response

• Returns all details of the Account Validation API supported by EWS.
• A comprehensive response best applied to use cases that require specific validation details.

Workflow

Example use cases

Initiate an inquiry.

A customer service representative for the local cable company is speaking with a customer that wants to set up a direct debit for their monthly cable bill. Due to new regulations, the customer's account information must be validated prior to setting up the direct debit transactions. The service rep enters the routing number for the customer's bank and checking account numbers. Within seconds, the validation is complete, and the service rep proceeds to set up the customer's direct debit and initiates the first transaction.

Complete payments transactions safely and securely.

A claims adjuster for a major insurance company is responsible for sending claims payments following accident investigations. The adjuster wants to make sure the funds are received promptly and securely by the intended claimant. The adjuster enters the routing number for the claimant's bank, the claimant's checking account number and some personal information. Within seconds, the validation is complete, and the adjuster can initiate the ACH credit.

Validate account information to process a payment.

A customer logs on to their utility provider's website to pay a bill. Before the bill can be paid, the customer must enter their account information. As the customer's account information is saved, the utility provider sends the account information to be validated. Within seconds, the validation is complete, and the customer can make the payment.

Requirements

Inquiry request and response data should be stored locally to support any troubleshooting and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) reporting requirements.

Restrictions

• Account Validation is classified as consumer reporting. U.S. Bank clients using Account Validation must follow the requirements of the FCRA. Severe penalties apply for failure to comply with FCRA.
• At least some of the transaction activity being validated must be originated through U.S. Bank to prove permissible purpose under the FCRA.
• Eligibility requirements apply. A vetting process must be performed to ensure your information security and other practices will keep Account Validation information protected.