Electronic Cash Difference Advices Frequently Asked Questions

Electronic Cash Difference Advices via the FedLine Web^® Solution and the FedMail^® Service enable organizations to access their deposit differences and associated strap images electronically. The Deposit Difference Reports are accessible to FedLine Subscribers with the Read Only and/or Cross-shipping access levels. The Federal Reserve discontinued mailing Cash Difference Advices effective October 1, 2016.

Electronic Cash Difference Advices Functionality

1. What is the difference between the FedLine Web Solution and the FedMail Service?

   With FedLine Web, the Cash Difference Advices are available to authorized subscribers in a report format via the Deposit Difference Reports functionality within the application. The FedMail Service delivers the differences via email.

   The Deposit Difference Reports functionality was designed with regard for the organizations' volume or frequency of Cash Difference Advices differences and can be used by larger difference volume organizations as well as lower volume organizations. The Deposit Difference Reports retain Cash Difference Advices for 65 days, allow for filtering, exporting the reports to Microsoft^® Excel^® and individual Cash Difference Advices to PDF.

   Organizations that already have a FedLine Web Solution connection with the Federal Reserve Banks can utilize this service to receive Cash Difference Advices via the Deposit Difference Reports and will be able to view their electronic Cash Difference Advices two business days following their posting to your accounting statement. Subscribers with the Read Only and/or Cross-shipping access levels will be able to access Cash Difference Advices and associated strap images through the Deposit Difference Reports option in the FedCash Deposit drop-down menu in FedLine Home.

   The FedMail Service is ideal for organizations that do not already have a FedLine Web Solution connection. Individuals from your organization that sign up for the FedMail Service will receive Cash Difference Advices and associated strap images via email two business days following their posting to your accounting statement. A separate email is sent for each difference.

   Both options are available to all organizations. Keep in mind, with both options, if your organization has multiple ABAs settling through a master account, the individuals receiving electronic Cash Difference Advices will be able to view Cash Difference Advices for all ABAs settling in the master account.

2. Can Deposit Difference Reports be used to dispute differences?

   No. Deposit Difference Reports cannot be used to dispute differences. The manual dispute process (PDF) for differences will continue to be in effect.

Deposit Difference Reports Availability

1. Is there a fee to access the Deposit Difference Report via the FedLine Web Solution?

   No. There is not a fee specifically for Deposit Difference Reports. There could be a fee for the FedLine Web Solution or the FedMail Service if your organization is using these channels for services other than FedCash Services. Reference the FedLine Solutions Fee Schedule for details.

2. How can my organization access reports if our cash operation is outsourced to an armored carrier?

   Armored carriers are not eligible for Deposit Difference Reports functionality in FedLine or the FedMail Service. If your cash operation is outsourced to an armored carrier, you will need to either establish at least one FedLine Subscriber within your organization with Cross-shipping or Read Only access levels or setup FedMail recipients. If you need to provide deposit difference information to your armored carrier, you will be able to do so by providing the electronic difference advices to them.

FedLine Web Option

1. In what format are the deposit differences presented in the FedLine Web Solution?

   The differences are available in the form of a report and include a summary and detail. The summary and detailed reports can be exported to Microsoft Excel, and individual Cash Difference Advices with associated strap images can be exported as a PDF file.

2. Where is the hyperlink for Deposit Difference Reports in the FedLine Web Solution?

   The hyperlink to Deposit Difference Reports in the FedLine Web Solution is listed under the Deposit hyperlink on the left navigation bar.

3. After I receive a charge on my accounting statement for a deposit difference, how long will I need to wait until I can see the corresponding difference advice in the FedLine Web Solution?

   You will be able to view a deposit difference advice in the FedLine Web Solution no later than on the second day after the charge has posted to your account. For example, if your account was charged on Monday, you will see the deposit difference advice in the FedLine Web Solution by Wednesday.

4. How will I know when my organization has received a difference advice in the FedLine Web Solution?

   Deposit Difference Reports will generate a broadcast message in the FedLine Web Solution when you have received a deposit difference associated with any of your organization's ABAs and endpoints.

5. What content is displayed in the FedLine Web Solution broadcast message?

   The broadcast message informs you that your organization has received one or more difference advices for a particular business date. You can use the business date as part of the selection criteria to retrieve and view these differences.

6. If my organization has more than one Cash Difference Advice for a business day, will the FedLine Web Solution display a broadcast message for each difference advice?

   No, the FedLine Web Solution will display one broadcast message per day indicating that your organization has received one or more difference advices for one or more of the ABAs and endpoints. (Note: If your organization does not have difference advices for a particular business day, the FedLine Web Solution will not display a broadcast message.)

7. Does the FedLine Web Solution broadcast message indicate how many difference advices my organization has for a business day?

   No. The broadcast message contains generic language that notifies you that your organization has received one or more difference advices.

8. Can I filter the results?

   Yes, you can use search criteria in the Deposit Difference Report to filter the results.

9. Can I export Electronic Cash Difference Advices?

   Yes, you can export:

   • The summary report to Microsoft Excel including 65 days' worth of differences.
   • An individual advice with strap image as a PDF file.
   • The detail report (with strap images) to Microsoft Excel.

   
   
10. How many differences with images can I download at one time?

    To ensure that the performance of the existing FedLine Web Solution functionality and the new Deposit Difference Reports functionality meet a certain service level (e.g., transaction response time), the FedLine application was designed to limit the number of differences with images that you can download to 15 differences.

11. Can I print the difference advice and strap image?

    Yes, the Deposit Difference Reports functionality in the FedLine Web Solution allows you to export the difference advice and strap image to PDF which can be printed.

12. How long are differences retained in the FedLine Web Solution?

    Differences will be retained in the FedLine Web Solution up to 65 days.

13. Why are the differences retained only for 65 days?

    To ensure that the performance of the existing FedLine Web Solution functionality and the new Deposit Difference Reports functionality meet a certain service level (e.g., time out issues), the FedLine application retains differences for only 65 days. The export functionality allows you to save the differences electronically for longer retention on your systems. The single Cash Difference Advice in PDF format can also be saved electronically to your systems.

Access and Credentialing

1. What FedLine Web access level do I need to be able to access Deposit Difference Reports?

   The FedCash Read Only and Cross-shipping access levels provide the same level of access to Deposit Difference Reports functionality.

2. Will I be able to access the Deposit Difference Reports only for my credentialed ABA?

   No. If your organization has multiple ABAs, you will have access to difference information for all ABAs that settle through your organization's master account.

3. What if an existing Read Only or Cross-Shipping Subscriber does not handle deposit differences in their daily job?

   Organizations will need to work with their End User Authorization Contact (EUAC), who will submit credential requests for new Subscribers that need access to difference advices. Also, if the organization does not want their current, existing Subscribers with these access levels to have access to Deposit Differences Reports, the organization has the option to have their EUAC submit a Subscriber request to remove the Read Only and/or Cross-shipping access levels from the Subscriber's credential.

FedMail Service Option

1. After I receive a charge on my accounting statement for a deposit difference, how long will I need to wait until I receive the corresponding difference advice via the FedMail Service?

   You will receive an Electronic Cash Difference Advice via the FedMail Service within two business days following their posting to your accounting statement.

2. Can Cash Difference Advices via FedMail be sent to multiple email addresses?

   Yes. If you are using personal email addresses, more than one email address is suggested.

3. Can Cash Difference Advices via FedMail be sent to a group mailbox?

   Group or shared mail boxes are preferred.

Mail Discontinuation

1. When did the Federal Reserve Banks discontinue mailing Cash Difference Advices?

   Paper Cash Difference Advices were discontinued in waves beginning August 1, 2015. Effective October 1, 2016, the Federal Reserve Banks discontinued mailing Cash Difference Advices to all organizations.

Training Resources and Additional Information

1. Where can I find additional training resources regarding Electronic Cash Difference Advices?

   Tutorials within the EUAC Center provide additional detail for adding and modifying FedLine Subscribers.

2. Who can I contact if I have questions regarding Electronic Cash Difference Advices via the FedLine Web Solutions or the FedMail Service?

   Contact your local FedCash Services District Contact.

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