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Non-Cash Item (NCH)

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ITYP Description | Proper Usage

Non-Cash Item (NCH) – Used to request a credit entry for a non-valid item (zero-value) that was included in the cash/return letter total, an item was included that does not meet legal equivalence requirements for Check 21 or the image received in an X9.100-187 (X9.37) image cash/return letter is deemed to be non-conforming by the receiving institution. The NCH should not be used to report stale dated, fraudulent or forged items or situations where an item should have been handled through Return channels (such as missing signature, insufficient funds etc.)

If you discover a NCH, submit an adjustment request to the Federal Reserve.

NOTE: Examples of NCH include - an empty carrier, a control document, a deposit/withdrawal ticket, or a mutilated item. Check 21-related Non-Cash Items include situations in which the image on the substitute check does not match the MICR line on the substitute check (mismatched items), the substitute check has more than one legal legend (or no legal legend), or the substitute check is an image of image. These examples are not all inclusive.

Your Action

Submit an Electronic Case or Adjustment Request Form (PDF).

Information about Non-Cash Item (NCH) reporting time frames and actions.
Reporting Time Frame Federal Reserve Bank Action
Within twenty business days
of the cash/return letter date.
Same day entry - provided requirements are met.*
After twenty business days, but within six calendar months
of the cash/return letter date.
Same day acknowledgement - Provided requirements are met.*

Entry after notification to the offsetting institution.
Complete initial research within twenty business days of receiving request to determine the offsetting institution and send notification of intent to pass entry in twenty business days.
After six calendar months, but within one calendar year
of the cash/return letter date.
Same day acknowledgement - Provided requirements are met.*

No entry.
Provide source information and advise the requesting institution to deal directly with the offsetting institution.

Respond to request within twenty business days.

Optional Attachments

A legible photocopy of the item.

Required Fields

Information about Non-Cash Item (NCH) reporting field names, forms and FedLine messages.
Field Name Paper Form FedLine CA1000 Message
Sender ABA (SNDR) Your institution's ABA #, name, street address, city, phone #, contact name and respondent’s ABA # (if applicable) Auto-fills with your 9-digit ABA #
Receiver ABA (RCVR) Receiving Federal Reserve Bank's name and/or ABA # Federal Reserve Bank ABA # from drop-down list
Case Investigation Type (ITYP) Non-Cash Item (NCH) NCH
Message Type (MTYP) Open (OPEN) Auto-fills with OPEN
Case Amount (AMT) Amount of the NCH item
Entry Type (ETYP) Credit CR
Sender Reference Number (SREF) Your institution's case # (max of 14 characters)
Contact Information (CNTC & TELE) Contact name, address and telephone number Contact name and telephone number
From Cash Letter ABA (FCL) & To Cash Letter ABA (TCL) The Federal Reserve sent the cash/ return letter to your institution
FCL - Federal Reserve's ABA #
TCL - Your institution's ABA #
Product Type (PROD) The appropriate cash letter product code 3-character cash letter product code from the drop-down list
Cash Letter or Entry Date (CLED) Date of the cash/ return letter
Cash Letter Total (CLT) Cash/return letter total in which the requested item is contained
Tape Total (TT) Tape/bundle total in which the requested item is contained
Sequence Number (SEQ) The Federal Reserve's ISN#
Item Before Amount (IBEF) Dollar amount of the item listed on the cash/return letter detail listings before the requested item. If the requested item is the first item, then enter .00.
Item After Amount (IAFT) Dollar amount of the item listed on the cash/return letter detail listing after the requested item. If the requested item is the last item, then enter .00.

*Same Day Entry/Acknowledgement Requirements

All electronic adjustment requests received by 5:00 p.m. ET with complete information will receive same day entry/acknowledgement. Supporting documentation (attachments) must be provided at the same time the electronic adjustment message is submitted. For requests submitted using the text (TXT) file format, attachments must be received within five business days of receipt of the electronic request. If the supporting documentation is required and not received the request will be resolved back to the requester and any provisional entry will be reversed.

All paper adjustment requests received at the Check Adjustments Centralized Data Entry Site by 11:00 a.m. ET with complete information and documentation will receive same day entry/acknowledgement.

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Retired Investigation Types

The following investigation types are outdated and have minimal usage. These investigation types were eliminated on May 22, 2017.

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