R06 ACH Return Code: Returned per ODFI's Request

What Causes ACH Return Code R06?

The R06 ACH return code means "Returned per ODFI's Request" and indicates that your bank or payment processor (the Originating Depository Financial Institution) has requested that the receiving bank return the transaction. This return is initiated by the sending side, not the receiving side, which makes it different from most other ACH return codes.

R06 returns typically occur when the ODFI identifies issues such as duplicate payments, incorrect transaction amounts, suspected fraudulent activity, or transactions that were processed in error. Both the sending bank (ODFI) and receiving bank (RDFI) must agree to this type of return, making it a coordinated reversal rather than a unilateral rejection.

Can You Retry R06 Payments?

You can potentially retry R06 payments, but only after understanding why your bank requested the return and resolving the underlying issue. Since your own bank initiated this return, you must contact them first to determine if the transaction was erroneous, fraudulent, or needs to be corrected before reprocessing.

How to respond

An R06 return originates from your own bank or payment processor, requiring immediate contact with them to understand the reason for the return request and determine appropriate next steps.

When receiving payments

Contact Your Bank or Processor Immediately
Reach out to your ODFI to understand exactly why they requested this return.
Review Transaction Details
Examine the original transaction for errors, duplicates, or suspicious activity.
Suspend Related Transactions
Halt any pending or scheduled payments until you resolve the underlying issue.
Correct Issues Before Retrying
Only reprocess after addressing the specific problem identified by your bank.

When sending payments

An R06 return on vendor payments means your bank requested the reversal, possibly due to duplicate processing, fraud concerns, or processing errors. This requires immediate investigation to maintain vendor relationships.

Contact your bank immediately to understand why they requested the return
Review your payment processing for any errors or duplicates
Communicate transparently with the vendor about the bank-initiated reversal
Correct any identified issues before reprocessing the vendor payment

Email template

From: [Your Company Name] <[your-email]>
To: [Customer Name] <[customer-email]>
Subject: Payment Processing Issue - Investigation in Progress

Hi [Customer Name],

We experienced an issue with your recent payment that required our bank to reverse the transaction. This was initiated by our payment processor as a precautionary measure.

We're currently investigating the cause and will have this resolved shortly. This may have been due to a duplicate processing error or a security verification.

We'll contact you within 24 hours with an update and to reprocess your payment if needed. No action is required on your part at this time.

Thanks,

[Your Company Name]