Nacha, the organization that writes the rules for the ACH Network, said on July 27, 2026 that its voting members approved three new rules. One took effect immediately; one adjusts the 9:00 AM funds-availability rule due on September 18, 2026; one starts on January 1, 2027.
What changed
- ACH Contact Registry
Registered financial institutions, Payments Associations and the two ACH Operators only→ U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service added, effective on approval (Nacha lists July 24, 2026)- Accepted charactersthe characters both ACH Operators accept will be written into the rules, from January 1, 2027
- 9:00 AM availability exceptionbanks east of the Atlantic time zone and west of the International Date Line, including in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, may make certain next-day credits available after 9:00 AM local time, from September 18, 2026
- Whobanks and credit unions that receive ACH payments; indirectly, anyone paid by direct deposit
Source: Nacha, “Three New Nacha Rules Approved” · Checked on September 27, 2026
Why it matters
From September 18, 2026, receiving banks must make standard (non-Same Day) ACH credits such as paychecks available by 9:00 AM their local time on the settlement date. The exception covers banks where some file deliveries arrive after that hour because of their time zone. For most US readers nothing in this exception changes the 9:00 AM rule.
The Treasury change is about contacts, not timing. Nacha says banks will be able to reach the right people at the Fiscal Service about federal ACH payments, and to verify a caller who claims to be from the Fiscal Service by calling a number listed in the Registry.
What to do
- Waiting on a direct deposit? See how long ACH takes.
- If someone calls claiming to be from the Treasury about a federal payment, hang up and contact your bank through its official channel.
