The ABA file, also called a Direct Entry file, is Australia's fixed width text format for bulk payments and debits, such as payroll, sent through a bank into the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS). Every record is 120 characters: one descriptive record, detail records with BSB, account, transaction code and amount in cents, then a file total record. Klarbon support is planned, not available yet.
What is in an ABA file?
| Record | Holds |
|---|---|
| Type 0, descriptive | reel sequence number, bank abbreviation, user name, user identification number, description such as "Payroll", processing date as DDMMYY |
| Type 1, detail | BSB as xxx-xxx, account number, transaction code, amount in cents, account title, lodgement reference, trace BSB and account, remitter name, withholding tax |
| Type 7, file total | net, credit and debit totals in cents, and the count of detail records |
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
13 |
debit |
50 |
credit |
51 |
Australian Government security interest |
52 |
family payments |
53 |
pay |
54 |
pension |
55 |
allotment |
56 |
dividend |
57 |
debenture or note interest |
AusPayNet administers BECS and publishes its procedures (AusPayNet). Each bank publishes its own file guide; the layout above follows NAB's (NAB).
ABA or other payment files?
| ABA Direct Entry | US ACH / NACHA | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Australia | United States |
| Syntax | fixed width, 120 characters | fixed width, 94 characters |
| Covers | credits and debits | credits and debits |
What does Klarbon do with ABA files?
Opening ABA files to show their entries, and checking them, are planned, not available yet. Klarbon does not create payment files: one imported into a bank can move real money. See supported bank statement files.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What is an ABA file?
A fixed width text file in the Australian Direct Entry format, used to send bulk credits, such as payroll, or debits to a bank. The bank passes the entries into the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS).
How is an ABA file laid out?
Every record is 120 characters, ending with a carriage return and line feed. One descriptive record (type 0) comes first, then one or more detail records (type 1), then one file total record (type 7).
What are ABA transaction codes?
Two digit codes in each detail record. 13 is a debit; 50 is a general credit, and 51 to 57 are credits such as pay (53), pension (54) and dividend (56).
What is the trace account in an ABA file?
The BSB and account number in each detail record to which a failed entry is returned. Each file also carries the user identification number assigned to the sender.
Sources
- Australian Payments Network, Direct Entry and BECS auspaynet.com.au
- NAB, Australian Direct Entry payments and dishonour report file format (PDF) nab.com.au
- Hancock Whitney, NACHA file structure hancockwhitney.com