R17: File Record Edit Criteria
The receiving bank rejected the record itself as malformed or suspicious.
| Code | R17 |
|---|---|
| Official reason | File Record Edit Criteria |
| Applies to | Credits and debits |
| Return deadline | 2 banking days |
What R17 means
The receiving bank's own edit checks rejected the entry — fields that do not meet its criteria, an account number it considers suspicious, or an improperly initiated reversal. The bank normally adds a short description explaining what failed.
What to do next
Read the description your bank passes back; it names the offending field. This is the one return code that most often points at the file rather than the recipient, so validate the file's record structure before re-exporting.
Can this happen on a file from this generator?
Yes. R17 can come back on a credit file, so it is worth guarding against. Verify account details with a zero-dollar prenote before the first live payment, and check the file's structure with the ACH file validator before you upload it to your bank.
Other return codes
R01, R02, R03, R04, R06, R07, R08, R09, R10, R11, R16, R20, R23, R29. The full list includes every code from R01 to R33.