NACHA Accredits 668 Payments Professionals In 2006

"The growth of NACHA's Accredited ACH Program reflects the growing importance of ACH payments to financial institutions and their customers," said Elliott C. McEntee, President and Chief Executive Officer of NACHA. "AAPs provide the expertise that financial institutions and companies need to plan their payments strategies and manage their payments services."

Four hundred forty-three payments professional earned the AAP designation by passing the national AAP examination, administered on October 17, 2006. Of those, 410 received accreditation for the first time, and 33 received 5-year re-accreditation. An additional 225 payments professionals received re-accreditation in 2006 through NACHA's continuing education program.

"Earning an Accredited ACH Professional designation establishes your credibility in today's competitive payments industry," said McEntee. "It's a great way to advance your payments career."

Created in 1993, the AAP designation recognizes industry professionals for their understanding and knowledge of the ACH Network and the payments industry. The 2006 AAP recipients will be honored at an AAP Breakfast at NACHA's annual conference, PAYMENTS 2007, on Monday, April 16, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. Conference information is available at http://www.nacha.org/conferences/Payments2007/default.htm.

To qualify for accreditation, applicants must earn a passing score on the AAP exam. It is highly recommended that those choosing to sit for the AAP exam have a minimum of two years of experience in the payments industry. AAP accreditation is valid for five years, after which re-accreditation is available.

The AAP exam is given every October at approximately fifty sites throughout the United States. The next AAP exam is scheduled for October 16, 2007. For more information, contact your local payments association or NACHA at 703-561-1100, or visit the NACHA web site at http://www.nacha.org.