R55

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High-Priority Return Code

This ACH return code occurs when the routing number provided in the transaction does not match the correct 9-digit code for the intended financial institution. Unlike R13 (Invalid ACH Routing Number) which indicates the routing number structure is invalid, R55 specifically indicates that while the routing number may be properly formatted, it is incorrect for the intended bank or credit union.

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Error message: "The routing number provided was not correct."

What Causes ACH Return Code R55?

The R55 ACH return code means "Incorrect Routing Number" and indicates that the 9-digit routing number provided in the ACH transaction does not correspond to the correct financial institution intended for the payment. This differs from invalid routing numbers that fail format validation - R55 routing numbers may be properly structured but simply point to the wrong bank or credit union.

Routing numbers are unique identifiers assigned to each financial institution by the American Bankers Association (ABA). When a customer provides an incorrect routing number, the ACH transaction gets directed to the wrong financial institution, which cannot locate the associated account and returns the payment. This commonly occurs when customers confuse different routing numbers for the same bank (such as wire transfer vs. ACH routing numbers), provide outdated routing numbers from bank mergers, or simply make transcription errors when providing their banking information.

Can You Retry R55 Payments?

You can retry R55 payments once you obtain the correct routing number from the customer. Contact the customer to verify their banking information and ensure they provide the accurate routing number for their specific financial institution and account type. Some banks have different routing numbers for different services (ACH vs. wire transfers), so confirm the routing number is specifically for ACH transactions.

Common Causes

Customer provided wrong routing number during payment setup

Confusion between different routing numbers for same bank (ACH vs. wire)

Outdated routing number due to bank mergers or acquisitions

Transcription errors when entering 9-digit routing number

Customer mistakenly provided routing number for different account or bank

Key Information

Return timeframe: Typically 2 banking days

Can be resolved by obtaining correct routing number

Different from R13 (invalid format) - R55 indicates wrong but potentially valid number

Requires customer verification of banking information

May need clarification on ACH-specific routing numbers

How to Respond to an R55 Code

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An R55 return requires obtaining the correct routing number from the customer and verifying their banking information to ensure successful reprocessing.

When Your Customer's Payment Fails

Contact Customer for Verification
Reach out to confirm their correct routing number and verify all banking information.
Clarify ACH vs. Wire Routing Numbers
Ensure the customer provides the routing number specifically for ACH transactions, not wire transfers.
Verify with Bank Documentation
Ask the customer to check their bank statement, checks, or contact their bank directly for the correct ACH routing number.
Retry with Correct Information
Once verified, resubmit the payment with the accurate routing number and confirmed account details.

Email Template

Subject: Payment Issue - Banking Information Verification Needed

Hi [Customer Name],

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We attempted to process your payment but received an R55 return code, indicating the routing number provided doesn't match your bank. This is a common issue that's easily resolved.

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To complete your payment, please verify your banking information:

Double-check your 9-digit routing number
Ensure it's the ACH routing number (not wire transfer)
Confirm this matches your current bank and account

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You can find the correct routing number on your bank statements, checks, or by contacting your bank directly. Some banks use different routing numbers for different services, so please specify you need the ACH routing number.

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Once you provide the corrected information, we'll reprocess your payment immediately.

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Best regards,

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[Your Company Name]

When Your Payment to Vendors Fails

An R55 return on vendor payments indicates you have an incorrect routing number for the vendor's bank account. This requires verifying the vendor's banking information and obtaining the correct routing number for successful payment processing.