In this guide
Editorial note: Bank cutoffs, fees, user limits and treasury-product features vary by institution and account. Confirm live terms before relying on a payment deadline or control setting.
Check positive pay
The business sends issued-check data to the bank. When a check is presented, the bank compares fields such as check number and amount and routes mismatches for review.
Payee positive pay
More advanced services may also compare payee information, adding protection against altered-payee fraud.
ACH controls
ACH debit filters and blocks can restrict which originators may debit the account and may set limits or approval rules.
Exception workflow
| Step | Control objective |
|---|---|
| Morning exception file | Review unmatched items promptly |
| Decision cutoff | Pay or return before bank deadline |
| Escalation | Route unusual exceptions to authorized staff |
| Audit trail | Retain who approved each decision |
The deadline is part of the control
A strong service can fail operationally if no one reviews exceptions before the bank's decision cutoff. Assign ownership and backup coverage.
Primary sources and reference material
BusinessBanks.us practical takeaway
Match the payment rail to the operating need.
Cost, speed, finality, fraud controls, reconciliation and staff permissions all matter. The best treasury setup is the one that fits the business process—not the one with the most features.