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Automated Clearing Settlement System (ACSS) Rules and Standards

This section of the Canadian Payment Association (CPA) website contains the Automated Clearing Settlement System (ACSS) Rules Manual governing the exchange of payment items between CPA member institutions. The Rules and Standards contained here are updated regularly on a best efforts basis and should be the version in force. However, to be absolutely certain, we suggest you contact the CPA for confirmation. To contact CPA Public Affairs, e-mail us at info@cdnpay.ca, call us at 613-238-4173, or fax us 613-233-3385.

Manual

  • Introduction — Preamble, Procedure for Access to CPA Rules, Rules and Rules Amendments, Procedures for Discussion Draft Rules, Rights and Obligations, Definitions (terms used in more than one rule) [PDF 129 KB]
  • Section A — Preparation of Clearings
  • Section B — Clearing at Regional Exchange Points
  • Section C — (This section reserved for future use)
  • Section D — Clearing Arrangements for Direct Clearers Acting in Agent Capacities
  • Section E — Electronic Items
  • Section F — Automated Funds Transfer System
  • Section G — Industry Agreements with Third Parties in Respect of Joint or Common Services
  • Section H — Payment Services
  • Section I — (This section reserved for future use)
  • Section J — Miscellaneous Procedures
  • Section K — International Payment Procedures
  • Section L — Default and Insolvency Procedures
  • ACSS Standards

Section A - Preparation of Clearings

  • Policy Statement - Prohibition of Tele-Cheques in the Clearing and Settlement System
  • A1 General Rules Pertaining to Items Acceptable for Clearing [PDF 77 KB]
  • A2 This section reserved for future use
  • A3 Endorsement of Paper Items [PDF 106 KB]
  • A4 Returned andRedirected [PDF 164 KB]
  • A5 Credits to Accounts of Deceased Customers [PDF 24 KB]
  • A6 Items in Dispute [PDF 26 KB]
  • A7 - A8 (These sections reserved for future use
  • A9 Arbitration [PDF 79 KB]
  • A10 Images, Image Printouts and Return Replacement Documents [PDF 54 KB]
  • A11 (This section reserved for future use - A11 removed October 7, 1999 and replaced by the Compliance Rule. The Compliance Rule was repealed February 26, 2004.)

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Section B - Clearing at Regional Exchange Points

  • B1 Intermember Clearing at Regional Settlement Points [PDF 66 KB]
  • B2 Manual Preparation of Cheque Clearing Logs [PDF 75 KB]
  • B3 Regional Exchange Points - Composition and Representation [PDF 28 KB]
  • B4 Formation, Membership and Management of Regional Clearing Associations [PDF 31 KB]
  • B5 Intermember Cheque Exchanges [PDF 112 KB]
  • B6 (This section reserved for future use - removed March 23, 1995)
  • B7 (This section reserved for future use - removed February 12, 1998)
  • B8 (This section reserved for future use - removed September 29, 1994)
  • B9 Manual Balancing and Settlement [PDF 177 KB]
  • B10 Tracing, Clearing Errors and Use of Photocopies [PDF 104 KB]
  • B11 (This section reserved for future use - removed September 29, 1994)
  • B12 (This section reserved for future use - removed March 22, 2001)
  • B13 Procedures for Joint Air/Ground Courier Arrangements [PDF 91 KB]
  • B14 Procedures for the Delivery of Clearing Items on Tape [PDF 76 KB]

Additional Information:

  • Direct Clearer Procedures - ACSS Contingency Situation Manual Balancing & settlement of Clearing
  • Regional Clearing Assocation Procedures - ACSS Contingency Situation Manual Balancing & Settlement of Clearing [PDF 93 KB]

 

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Section C - (this section reserved for future use)

Section D - Clearing Arrangements for Direct Clearers Acting in Agent Capacities

  • D1 Direct Clearer / Group Clearer Requirements [PDF 55 KB]
  • D2 Clearing Agent Requirements [PDF 40 KB]
  • D3 Indirect Clearer Requirements [PDF 43 KB]
  • D4 Institution Numbers and Clearing Agency Arrangements [PDF 270 KB]
  • D5 (This section reserved for future use - removed November 27, 1995)
  • D6 (This section reserved for future use - removed January 22, 1996)

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Section E - Electronic Items

  • E1 Shared Electronic Point-of-Service Payment Items [PDF 74 KB]
  • E2 Exchange for the Purpose of Clearing and Settlement of Electronic On-line Payment Items [PDF 66 KB]
  • E3 Rules Applicable to Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Transactions [PDF 645 KB]
  • E4 Exchange of PIN-less Point-of-Service Debit Payment Items for the Purpose of Clearing and Settlement [PDF 64 KB]

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Section F - Automated Funds Transfer System

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Section G - Industry Agreements with Third Parties in Respect of Joint or Common Services

  • G1 (This section reserved for future use - removed September 29, 1994)
  • G2 General Rules Pertaining to Government of Canada Paper Instruments[PDF 75 KB]
  • G3 Rules Pertaining to the Redemption and Settlement of Government of Canada Paper Instruments [PDF 115 KB]
  • G4 Canada Customs and Revenue Acceptance of Payments - Goods & Services Tax (GST), Excise, Taxation, and Customs Programs [PDF 467 KB]
  • G5-G6 (These sections reserved for future use - removed October 1, 1997)
  • G7 Verification and Collection Procedures for Receiver General Warrants
    [PDF 133 KB]
  • G8 Procedures/Criteria Pertaining to the Encashment of Government of Canada Payment Items for Non-Customers [PDF 39 KB]
  • G9 Manual Preparation and Use in a Manual Balancing Situation of the Government Items Clearing Logs [PDF 73 KB]
  • G10 - G11 (These sections reserved for future use - G10 removed November 27, 1995)
  • G12 Procedures for Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Direct Deposit Payment Items [PDF 540 KB]

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Section H - Payment Services

  • H1 Pre-Authorized Debits [PDF 285 KB]
  • H2 Claim Drafts or Reimbursement Drafts [PDF 28 KB]
  • H3 (This section reserved for future use - removed July 14, 1997. For collection-related procedures, refer to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) guidelines for collection items.)
  • H4 (This section reserved for future use - removed April 15, 2002. For Pre-Authorized Debits procedures please refer to Rule H1)
  • H5 Redemption, Exchange and Settlement of Canadian Dollar Bonds, Debentures and Coupons [PDF 146 KB]
  • H6 Rules Pertaining to the Inter-financial Institution Exchange and Settlement of Bill Payment Remittances [PDF 419 KB]
  • H7 (This section reserved for future use - removed April 15, 2002. For Pre-Authorized Debits procedures please refer to Rule H1)
  • H8 (This section reserved for future use - removed April 15, 2002. For Pre-Authorized Debits procedures please refer to Rule H1)

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Section I - (this section reserved for future use)

Section J - Miscellaneous Procedures

  • J1-J6 (These sections reserved for future use)
  • J7 Force Majeure Situations [PDF 28 KB]
  • J8 - J9 (These sections reserved for future use - J8 removed March 23, 1995)
  • J10 Intermember Domestic Interest Claims/Compensation [PDF 40 KB]

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Section K - International Payment Procedures

  • K1 Bulk Exchange and Settlement of U.S. Dollar Items [PDF 149 KB]
  • K2 (This section reserved for future use - removed May 28, 2001)
  • K3 (This section reserved for future use - removed March 23, 1995)
  • K4 U.S. Bulk Exchange Automated System [PDF 50 KB]
  • K5 U.S. Bulk Exchange System - Manual Balancing and Settlement
    [PDF 68 KB]
  • K6 Intermember US Dollar Interest Claims [PDF 40 KB]
  • K7 (This section reserved for future use - removed November 27, 2008)
  • K8 US Dollar Automated Funds Transfer System [PDF 88 KB]

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Section L - Default and Insolvency Procedures

  • L1 Procedures Pertaining to the Default of a Direct Clearer [PDF 60 KB]
  • L2 Procedures Pertaining to the Default of an Indirect Clearer [PDF 42 KB]

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ACSS Standards

  • 001-004 (reserved for future use)
  • 005 - Standards for the Exchange of Financial Data on AFT Files [PDF 150 KB]
  • 006 - Specifications for MICR-Encoded Payment Items [PDF 1941 KB]
  • 007 (removed April 21, 2008)
  • 008 (removed November 27, 1995 - amalgamated with Rule A3)
  • 009 (reserved for future use)
  • 010 - Standards and Guidelines for the Standard Intermember Control Document [PDF 112 KB]
  • 011 (removed November 27, 1995 - amalgamated with Rule A4)
  • 012 - Image Security Standard [PDF 43 KB]
  • 013 - Return Replacement Document Design Standard [PDF 246 KB]
  • 014 (reserved for future use)
  • 015 (removed April 21, 2008)
  • 016 (removed April 7, 1997)
  • 017 (removed September 18, 1997)
  • 020 (removed July 18, 1998)
  • 021 (removed July 18, 1998)
  • 022 (removed July 18, 1998)
  • 023 (removed June 20, 1995 - amalgamated with Rule E3)

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