The ultimate positive pay guide to check fraud prevention

Positive Pay is an automated fraud detection service offered by banks to business customers. It works by comparing each check presented for payment with the company's list of issued checks, helping to catch counterfeit or altered checks before they clear your account.

This cash management tool creates a systematic defense against check fraud. When you issue checks, you send your bank a file containing the check number, date, amount, and account information for each one. The bank then uses this data as a reference point. Any check that shows up for payment gets verified against your list. If the details match, the check clears normally. If something doesn't match, the bank flags it as an exception and contacts you for instructions.

The name "Positive Pay" comes from the verification process itself. The bank only pays checks that positively match your authorized list. Without a match, the default action is to reject the payment until you confirm it's legitimate. This simple but powerful approach has prevented countless instances of check fraud since banks first introduced it in the 1990s.

Many businesses don't realize that Positive Pay also extends to electronic payments. ACH Positive Pay applies the same verification concept to automated clearing house transactions, giving you control over electronic debits from your account. With both check and ACH fraud on the rise, having this dual protection has become increasingly important for maintaining financial security.

The Positive Pay process follows a straightforward sequence that puts you in control of which checks clear your account. Here's how it works step by step.

First, your company uploads an issued check file to the bank. This file contains the check number, date, amount, and account number for every check you write. If you're using Payee Positive Pay, you'll also include the payee name. Most accounting software can generate this file automatically, and you typically upload it through your bank's online portal the same day you issue the checks.

When someone presents one of your checks for payment, the bank immediately compares it against your uploaded list. The matching process happens in seconds. If the check number, amount, and other details align with your records, the check clears without any intervention needed from you.

Things get interesting when there's a mismatch. Maybe the dollar amount differs from what you authorized, or the check number doesn't exist in your records at all. These mismatches become exceptions, and your bank notifies you immediately, usually through email or your online banking platform. You then have a short window, typically until 2 PM the next business day, to tell the bank whether to pay or reject the check.

The decision deadline matters. If you don't respond in time, the bank follows its default policy. Most banks will automatically reject unmatched checks to protect you from fraud, though some might pay them and hold you responsible. Know your bank's specific policy and response deadlines.

Missing the upload deadline creates its own problems. If you forget to send your issued check file, legitimate checks might get flagged as exceptions. Your vendor's payment gets delayed, and you're scrambling to approve checks that should have been cleared automatically. That's why timely file submission is critical to making Positive Pay work smoothly.

Consider this example. Your business issues Check #5234 for $1,500 to ABC Supply Company. You include these details in your daily Positive Pay file upload. Two days later, someone tries to cash Check #5234, but they've altered the amount to $15,000. The bank catches the discrepancy instantly and alerts you. You reject the fraudulent check, saving your company $13,500 and triggering an investigation into the attempted theft.

Several variations of Positive Pay address different payment methods and security needs. Understanding each type helps you choose the right combination for your business.

Standard check positive pay

This is the foundation service that most businesses start with. Standard Check Positive Pay verifies the check number, amount, date, and account number against your issued check file. When these details match, the check clears automatically. When they don't, you get an exception alert.

The standard service catches most common fraud attempts. Someone tries to cash a completely fake check with your account number? It blocks the check because that check number doesn't exist in your file. A criminal intercepts a real check and changes the amount? The service catches the discrepancy and stops payment.

One limitation stands out. Basic Positive Pay might not verify the payee name unless you specifically add that feature. This gap leaves room for check washing schemes where fraudsters chemically remove the original payee name and write in their own. The check number and amount still match your records, so without payee verification, the altered check might slip through.

Payee positive pay

Payee Positive Pay closes the check washing loophole by adding payee name verification to the standard service. Now the bank checks five data points instead of four. Even if a fraudster perfectly alters just the payee line while keeping everything else intact, the service catches it.

This enhanced protection typically costs a bit more than the basic service, but the added security justifies the expense for most businesses. Check washing has surged in recent years as criminals have perfected techniques for altering stolen checks. With Payee Positive Pay, you force fraudsters to somehow match all your issued check details, including the exact payee name, which proves nearly impossible without inside information.

Banks sometimes offer Payee Positive Pay as an add-on feature you can activate, while others include it in their premium Positive Pay packages. The setup requires slightly more work since you need to ensure payee names in your accounting software exactly match what appears on checks, but this precision pays off in fraud prevention.

ACH positive pay

ACH Positive Pay extends protection to electronic transactions. Also called ACH Debit Block or ACH Filter, this service lets you control which automated clearing house debits can hit your account. You establish rules about who can debit your account, maximum amounts, and acceptable date ranges.

ACH Positive Pay works differently from check verification. Instead of uploading a file for each ACH transaction, you typically set up filters or pre-authorized criteria. For instance, you might authorize your payroll processor to debit up to $50,000 twice monthly, your insurance company to debit $5,000 monthly, and block everyone else. Any ACH attempt outside these parameters triggers an exception for your review.

Some banks let you review all ACH debits before they process, similar to check exceptions. Others automatically block anything outside your pre-set rules. Given that ACH fraud attempts have risen alongside check fraud, this electronic protection has become just as important as protecting paper payments.

Reverse positive pay

Reverse Positive Pay flips the verification responsibility from the bank to you. Instead of the bank automatically comparing checks against your list, they simply show you all checks presented for payment. You must review this list and identify any fraudulent items, typically by 10 AM the next business day.

This option usually costs less than standard Positive Pay, and some banks offer it free. But you get what you pay for. The burden shifts entirely to your team to catch fraud quickly. Miss the deadline to report a suspicious check, and it gets paid automatically. Forget to review the list one busy morning, and a fraudulent check could clear.

Banks position Reverse Positive Pay as a budget option for businesses that want some protection but can't afford full Positive Pay fees. While it's better than no protection at all, the manual review requirement and tight deadlines make it risky. Most fraud prevention experts recommend it only as a temporary measure while you implement proper Positive Pay or if your bank doesn't offer the standard service.

Positive Pay delivers multiple advantages that justify its place in your fraud prevention toolkit. Each benefit directly impacts your bottom line or operational efficiency.

Prevents check fraud losses

The primary value of Positive Pay is simple. It stops fraudulent checks from clearing your account. Without this protection, a single counterfeit or altered check can cost thousands of dollars. Banks report average losses of $1,500 per fraudulent check, but many businesses face much larger theft attempts.

When fraudsters target your account, Positive Pay acts as your first line of defense. It catches fake checks before they clear, altered checks before the money disappears, and stolen checks before criminals cash them. You avoid both the immediate financial loss and the lengthy recovery process that follows successful fraud.

Enhances security and control

Positive Pay gives you final say over every payment leaving your account. No check clears without matching your authorized list or getting your explicit approval. This control extends to your entire payment operation, from routine vendor payments to large one-time transactions.

Positive Pay also deters internal fraud. Employees know that every check gets verified against official records. They can't write unauthorized checks or alter legitimate ones without triggering the exception process. This visibility alone prevents many insider theft attempts before they start.

Protects against account hijacking via ACH

ACH Positive Pay shields your account from unauthorized electronic withdrawals. Criminals increasingly target ACH transactions because they process quickly and move large amounts. Without protection, a fraudster who gets your account information can drain funds electronically.

With ACH filters in place, you define exactly who can debit your account and for how much. Any attempt outside these parameters gets blocked. This protection proves especially valuable for businesses that regularly share account information with vendors or have their banking details exposed through invoices or payment portals.

Operational efficiency

Automation through Positive Pay actually saves time despite the daily file uploads. Your team no longer needs to manually review every cleared check during reconciliation to spot fraud. The bank handles the matching automatically, and you only deal with exceptions.

The exception process itself is streamlined. Instead of discovering fraud weeks later during month-end reconciliation, you catch it immediately. Your accounting team spends minutes reviewing flagged items rather than hours investigating suspicious transactions after the fact.

Peace of mind

Knowing that Positive Pay guards your accounts provides genuine peace of mind. Business owners and CFOs sleep better knowing fraudulent checks won't slip through. During audits, you can demonstrate strong financial controls. Your stakeholders see that you take fraud prevention seriously.

This confidence extends to your banking relationship. Banks view businesses using Positive Pay as lower risk. Some institutions offer better terms or reduced fees on other services when you demonstrate commitment to fraud prevention through tools like Positive Pay.

Potential financial savings

The math on Positive Pay is straightforward. Preventing just one fraudulent check often pays for years of service fees. A $10,000 fraud attempt stopped by Positive Pay might cost you $50 per month to prevent. That's 16 years of protection paid for by stopping a single incident.

Add the indirect costs you avoid. No legal fees to recover stolen funds. No staff time investigating fraud. No damaged vendor relationships from bounced legitimate checks while you sort out fraud issues. No forced account closures and the hassle of updating payment information everywhere. These hidden savings often exceed the direct fraud losses prevented.

Positive Pay pricing varies widely depending on your bank, account type, and transaction volume. Understanding the fee structures helps you budget appropriately and negotiate better terms.

Some banks include basic Positive Pay free with premium business accounts. If you maintain high balances or generate significant fee revenue through other services, your bank might waive Positive Pay charges entirely. This is particularly common for established commercial relationships where the bank values your overall business.

Most banks charge either monthly subscription fees or per-item fees. Monthly fees typically range from $25 to $150 depending on your account size and the features included. Per-item pricing usually runs a few cents per check verified, which can add up for high-volume check writers. Some institutions combine both approaches, charging a base monthly fee plus per-item costs above a certain threshold.

Setup and implementation fees occasionally apply. Your bank might charge $100 to $500 to establish the service, configure your account, and train your staff. These one-time costs are becoming less common as banks streamline their onboarding processes, but budget for them just in case.

Additional features often mean additional costs. Payee Positive Pay might add $25 to $50 monthly to your base service. ACH Positive Pay could be bundled with check services or sold separately for $30 to $75 per month. Some banks charge extra for same-day exception processing or extended decision windows. Ask about these add-ons upfront to avoid surprise charges.

The indirect costs deserve consideration too. Your accounting software needs to generate Positive Pay files in your bank's required format. This might mean upgrading your software or purchasing an additional module. Staff time for daily file uploads and exception reviews represents an ongoing operational cost. While these aren't fees paid to the bank, they're real expenses in your Positive Pay implementation.

Here's the perspective that matters. A single prevented fraud incident typically justifies years of Positive Pay fees. If your business writes 100 checks monthly and pays $50 for Positive Pay, that's just 50 cents per check for fraud protection. Compare that to the average $1,500 loss from a single fraudulent check, and the value becomes clear.

Contact your bank for specific pricing. Many banks will negotiate fees based on your overall relationship. If you're shopping for new banking services, compare Positive Pay costs across institutions. Some banks use competitive Positive Pay pricing to attract new commercial customers. Just remember that the cheapest option isn't always the best if it lacks features like payee verification or ACH protection.

While Positive Pay significantly reduces fraud risk, it has limitations that businesses should understand before implementation. These drawbacks don't negate its value, but knowing them helps you use the service properly and set realistic expectations.

Not completely foolproof

Positive Pay catches most fraud attempts, but determined criminals sometimes find workarounds. If you're using basic Positive Pay without payee verification, check washing schemes can succeed. A fraudster removes the original payee name with chemicals and writes in their own name. Since the check number and amount still match your records, the altered check might clear.

Even with full payee verification, sophisticated fraud can occur. If criminals obtain your issued check data through insider theft or hacking, they could create checks that match your authorized list. While rare, this scenario shows why Positive Pay works best as part of a multi-layered security approach rather than your sole defense.

Requires diligence and timeliness

Positive Pay only works when you actively participate. Forget to upload your daily check file, and legitimate payments get flagged while fraudulent ones might slip through. Miss the deadline to review exceptions, and your bank might pay fraudulent checks by default or reject legitimate ones.

This ongoing responsibility can strain small businesses with limited staff. Someone must upload files every day you issue checks. Another person should review exceptions each morning. During busy periods or staff vacations, maintaining this routine becomes challenging. Protection weakens the moment you fall behind on these tasks.

Added administrative effort

Setting up Positive Pay takes work. Your accounting software must generate files in your bank's exact format. Staff need training on the upload process and exception handling procedures. You'll spend time initially configuring ACH rules and payee name formats.

The daily maintenance adds up too. Even if uploading takes just five minutes and reviewing exceptions takes ten, that's over an hour weekly of administrative work. For businesses writing just a handful of checks monthly, this time investment might seem excessive relative to the fraud risk.

Potential costs

For low-volume check writers, Positive Pay fees can seem steep. Paying $75 monthly to protect ten checks might not make mathematical sense until you consider that just one fraud incident could wipe out a small business. Still, the ongoing expense frustrates companies with tight budgets.

High-volume operations face different cost challenges. If your bank charges per check, processing thousands of payments monthly creates substantial fees. A company writing 5,000 checks monthly at three cents each pays $150 just for basic verification, plus monthly service fees and potential charges for additional features.

Limited scope

Positive Pay only addresses check and ACH fraud. It won't stop wire fraud, credit card fraud, or employee theft through expense reports. It can't prevent vendors from overcharging or employees from setting up shell companies. Businesses sometimes assume Positive Pay provides broader protection than it actually does.

The timing limitation matters too. Positive Pay catches fraud at the point of payment, not before. Criminals can still create fake checks and attempt fraud. You'll deal with exception alerts and investigations even though the fraud ultimately fails. This reactive nature means you're constantly defending rather than preventing fraud attempts entirely.

Liability considerations

Banks often shift fraud liability to customers who decline Positive Pay or use it incorrectly. If your bank offers Positive Pay and you choose not to use it, you might bear full responsibility for any check fraud losses. Even with Positive Pay active, failing to follow procedures like timely exception review could make you liable for resulting losses.

This liability shift creates pressure to not just adopt Positive Pay but to execute it perfectly. One missed upload or overlooked exception could cost thousands of dollars with no recourse against the bank. While this encourages diligent use, it also adds stress to your fraud prevention efforts.

Following proven practices ensures Positive Pay delivers maximum protection while minimizing disruptions to your payment operations. These guidelines come from businesses that have successfully implemented and maintained Positive Pay systems.

Timely and accurate file submission

Upload your issued check file immediately after cutting checks. Don't wait until the end of the day or batch uploads weekly. The sooner your bank has the data, the better protected you are. Set a standard process where check printing automatically triggers file creation and upload.

Accuracy matters as much as timing. Double-check that every issued check appears in your file with correct amounts and check numbers. A typo that shows $1,500 instead of $15,000 will cause the legitimate check to be flagged. Missing checks from your upload creates even bigger problems. Your vendor's payment gets rejected, relationships suffer, and you scramble to fix what should have been routine.

Build verification into your process. After uploading, confirm the bank received and processed your file. Most banks provide confirmation numbers or status screens showing successful uploads. Save these confirmations as proof you submitted files on time, which protects you if disputes arise later.

Diligently review exceptions

Assign specific responsibility for monitoring Positive Pay exceptions. This person should check for alerts first thing each morning and know exactly how to respond. Don't let exception review become "whoever gets to it first" because that means nobody owns it.

Set up redundancy for exception handling. Designate a backup person who can review exceptions when your primary reviewer is unavailable. Document your review procedures so anyone can follow them. Include screenshots of your bank's exception portal and step-by-step instructions for approving or rejecting items.

Respond to every exception before your bank's deadline. Most banks set cutoff times between noon and 2 PM. Miss this window and the bank makes the decision for you, either paying or rejecting based on their default policy. Set calendar reminders an hour before the deadline as a safety net.

Include payee verification

Always opt for Payee Positive Pay if your bank offers it. Yes, it might cost extra, but payee verification closes the check washing loophole that basic Positive Pay leaves open. This single upgrade stops one of the most common fraud schemes.

Standardize payee names across all your records. If you pay "ABC Company Inc." make sure that exact name appears in your accounting software, on the check, and in the Positive Pay file. Inconsistencies like "ABC Company" versus "ABC Company Incorporated" create false exceptions that waste time and might delay legitimate payments.

Train staff on proper payee entry. Special characters, abbreviations, and punctuation must match exactly. Create a vendor naming convention document that everyone follows. When adding new vendors, verify their legal name rather than using informal variations.

Maintain rigid internal controls

Positive Pay works best when combined with strong internal practices. Separate check preparation from Positive Pay file uploads. The person uploading files shouldn't be the same one writing checks or handling exception reviews. This separation prevents any single employee from circumventing controls.

Secure your check stock like cash. Lock blank checks in a cabinet with limited access. Use check numbers in sequence and investigate any gaps. Choose checks with security features like watermarks and heat-sensitive ink that make forgery harder. These physical controls reduce fraud attempts that Positive Pay must catch.

Reconcile your accounts promptly even with Positive Pay protection. Regular reconciliation confirms that Positive Pay is working correctly and catches any issues it missed. Look for patterns in your exception reports that might indicate attempted fraud or process problems.

Regularly update authorized ACH rules

Review your ACH authorization list quarterly. Remove vendors you no longer use and add new recurring payments before they hit. An outdated ACH filter list creates unnecessary exceptions and might block legitimate transactions.

Set reasonable dollar limits on ACH authorizations. If your monthly insurance premium is $5,000, authorize up to $5,500 to allow for small adjustments without triggering exceptions. But don't set limits so high that fraudulent amounts could slip through.

Monitor ACH exception patterns carefully. Repeated attempts from unknown originators might indicate someone has your account information and is probing for weaknesses. Report suspicious patterns to your bank's fraud department immediately.

Test and train

Run a test before going live with Positive Pay. Issue a few checks, upload the file, and verify the bank processes everything correctly. Have someone attempt to cash one check to confirm the matching works. Better to find problems during testing than with real vendor payments.

Train everyone involved in the payment process. Check writers need to understand how their actions affect Positive Pay. The upload person must know file formatting requirements. Exception reviewers should recognize common fraud indicators. Document these procedures in writing and update them when processes change.

Schedule refresher training annually. Staff forget procedures they don't use daily. New employees need proper onboarding. Banking portals change their interfaces. Regular training prevents knowledge gaps that fraudsters exploit.

Monitor and adjust

Track your exception rate monthly. High exception rates indicate process problems. Maybe check writers aren't following procedures, or your file format has issues. Low exception rates might mean everything works perfectly, or possibly that you're automatically approving too many items without proper review.

Adjust your processes based on patterns you observe. If certain vendors always trigger exceptions due to name variations, standardize their information. If exceptions spike on Mondays, investigate whether weekend check processing needs adjustment.

Work with your bank to optimize the service. Banks can often adjust matching parameters or provide additional training. If you're getting false positives on payroll checks, ask about special handling for those items. Your bank wants Positive Pay to work smoothly too, so they'll help refine the configuration.

Positive Pay isn't just for large corporations. Any business that writes checks or accepts ACH debits faces fraud risk and should consider implementing this protection.

Businesses with moderate to high check volume

If you write more than 20 checks monthly, Positive Pay becomes almost essential. The more checks you issue, the more opportunities fraudsters have to intercept, alter, or counterfeit your payments. High-volume operations like those processing weekly payroll or managing multiple vendor payments face exponential fraud risk without protection.

Even moderate check writers benefit significantly. A business cutting 50 checks monthly has 50 potential fraud points each month. That's 600 opportunities annually for criminals to steal from you. Positive Pay monitors all 600 automatically, catching discrepancies you'd likely miss during manual review.

Organizations that have experienced fraud

If you've been hit by check fraud before, implementing Positive Pay should be your immediate next step. Past victims often become repeat targets because fraudsters share information about vulnerable accounts. Once criminals know you're unprotected, they'll keep trying.

The same applies if fraud has touched your industry or geographic area. When neighboring businesses report check fraud or your trade association warns about payment scams, take it as your wake-up call. Fraudsters often work specific industries or regions systematically, moving from one unprotected business to the next.

Companies in fraud-prone sectors

Certain business characteristics increase fraud risk. If you mail checks to vendors, you're vulnerable to mail theft. If your checks pass through multiple hands before deposit, any of those touchpoints could be compromised. Businesses that publicly list their vendor payment schedules or those with published check signatures face elevated risk.

Geographic location matters too. Areas with high mail theft rates see more check fraud. Urban businesses aren't necessarily safer than rural ones. Criminals target locations where they perceive weak controls, regardless of geography. If local police report increased check fraud in your area, don't wait to become a statistic.

Businesses of all sizes

Small businesses often skip Positive Pay thinking they're too small to target. This is exactly wrong. Criminals specifically seek out small businesses believing they lack sophisticated fraud controls. Your five-employee company makes an attractive target precisely because fraudsters assume you don't have Positive Pay.

Large organizations need Positive Pay for different reasons. Their high transaction volumes make manual fraud detection impossible. They have more employees with potential access to check stock. Their vendor networks are larger, creating more opportunities for payment interference. No human team can effectively monitor thousands of monthly payments for fraud without automated help.

Public entities and nonprofits

Government agencies, schools, and nonprofits face unique pressures to protect funds. Public money demands public accountability. A single fraud incident can trigger audits, damage public trust, and lead to leadership changes. These organizations often operate on tight budgets where any loss directly impacts services.

Nonprofits handle donor funds that require careful stewardship. Board members increasingly expect professional-grade financial controls. Grant makers often require fraud prevention measures as a condition of funding. Positive Pay demonstrates fiscal responsibility to everyone watching how you manage money.

Financial institutions and their clients

Banks themselves use Positive Pay internally and recommend it to business clients. When your bank suggests Positive Pay, they're not just trying to sell you something. They see fraud patterns across all their customers and know who needs protection. Banks often require Positive Pay for certain high-risk accounts or large credit facilities.

If your bank offers Positive Pay and you decline it, you might assume greater liability for any fraud losses. Many account agreements shift responsibility to customers who refuse available fraud prevention tools. Using Positive Pay keeps the liability balance where it belongs, with shared responsibility between you and your bank.

The reality is straightforward. If you use checks or allow ACH debits, you need Positive Pay or equivalent protection. The only businesses that might skip it are those that exclusively use wire transfers or credit cards for all payments. Even then, if you keep a checking account open for emergencies, protect it with Positive Pay. The minimal cost and effort pale against the potential losses from a single successful fraud.

These scenarios illustrate how Positive Pay protects businesses from fraud attempts. While these are hypothetical examples based on common fraud patterns, they represent the types of situations businesses face daily.

Small manufacturer stops mail theft fraud

Consider a hypothetical family-owned manufacturing company discovering their outgoing mail is being stolen. Thieves intercept checks, wash off the payee names, and write in their own. This scheme could run for weeks before anyone notices discrepancies during reconciliation.

After implementing Positive Pay with payee verification, such a company would catch these alterations immediately. The process would flag checks where payee names don't match the issued check file, and the bank would reject them automatically. In this scenario, the company might prevent tens of thousands in fraudulent attempts.

This example shows why manufacturers and other businesses that mail checks need Payee Positive Pay. Without payee verification, washed checks with altered names but matching amounts could still clear. The monthly fee for this protection pales against potential losses from mail theft schemes.

Real estate firm blocks unauthorized ACH debit

Imagine a commercial real estate company noticing unusual ACH activity during routine account review. Several small debits from an unknown originator appear, classic signs of someone testing the account before attempting larger withdrawals. These small amounts might go unnoticed at many businesses.

If this company implemented ACH Positive Pay with strict authorization rules, they could block a subsequent large withdrawal attempt. The ACH filter would catch any transaction exceeding authorized limits or coming from an unrecognized originator. The company would reject the debit and alert law enforcement.

This scenario demonstrates how criminals often obtain banking information through vendor data breaches or social engineering. ACH Positive Pay provides essential protection against electronic fraud that's becoming increasingly common across all industries.

Nonprofit learns the limits of reverse positive pay

Picture a regional food bank choosing Reverse Positive Pay to save on banking fees. Their bank provides daily reports of presented checks for review each morning by 10 AM. This process might work well initially.

However, during a busy season, staff might miss the review deadline. A fraudulent check could clear that morning, and by the time it's discovered during monthly reconciliation, the funds would be unrecoverable. The bank would point to the Reverse Positive Pay agreement placing responsibility on the nonprofit for catching fraud within the review window.

This example illustrates why standard Positive Pay, despite higher costs, provides better protection than Reverse Positive Pay. Automated matching protects organizations even during their busiest periods when manual reviews might be missed.

Municipality prevents vendor impersonation

Consider a mid-sized city government discovering someone has intercepted and altered checks meant for a construction vendor. The fraudster might change the payee name slightly, adding "Inc." or "LLC," and deposit checks into a lookalike account.

With Payee Positive Pay, the city would catch these alterations immediately. The process would flag any discrepancy between the issued payee name and what appears on the presented check. This protection would not only prevent losses but provide an evidence trail if prosecution became necessary.

This scenario highlights why government entities and any organization with public accountability need robust payment controls. Standardizing vendor names and requiring exact matches prevents fraudsters from exploiting small variations in business names.

These examples represent common fraud schemes that Positive Pay prevents daily. Organizations that implement comprehensive Positive Pay before becoming victims avoid both financial losses and the operational disruption that follows successful fraud. Those who delay implementation or choose weaker alternatives often learn expensive lessons about the value of proper payment controls.

Positive Pay stands as one of the most reliable tools in your fight against check and ACH fraud. By creating an automated verification process between your business and your bank, it catches fraudulent transactions before they drain your accounts.

The statistics make the case clear. With the majority of businesses experiencing payment fraud attempts each year, hoping to avoid becoming a target isn't a strategy. Fraudsters have become more sophisticated, using everything from simple check alterations to complex ACH schemes. Positive Pay gives you a systematic defense that works every hour your account is active.

Implementation requires commitment but not complexity. Choose the right mix of services for your payment types. If you write checks, get standard Positive Pay at minimum, and add payee verification for maximum protection. If you allow ACH debits, implement ACH filters. Upload your files daily, review exceptions promptly, and maintain clean vendor records. These simple disciplines protect potentially millions in business funds.

While traditional banks offer Positive Pay services, modern financial platforms like Brex integrate fraud prevention directly into their business banking and treasury management solutions. Brex combines automated payment controls with corporate cards that provide real-time spending visibility and built-in fraud monitoring. Their treasury management platform protects your cash reserves while earning competitive yields, and their business banking includes advanced security features that go beyond traditional Positive Pay. With no monthly fees and integrated expense management software that prevents fraud before it happens, Brex gives growing companies enterprise-grade financial protection without enterprise complexity.

Open a Brex business account today and get the modern fraud prevention your business deserves.