Notifications and States
When you issue or deposit a check with Column, a check transfer will go through multiple state transitions. We notify you during each transition to keep you updated on clearing and settlement.
Issuing Checks with Column
To issue a check with Column, you must fund the account from which you are issuing a check. Column will lock funds in the account upon issuance. When you create a check via our Create Check API it flows from initiated to issued. Checks will remain in an issued state until a payee receives and cashes a check. Column receives cashed check details from the Fed and will attempt to debit the payer's account.
In the event that there are insufficient funds in the payer's account, Column will return the check to the payee's bank, or bank of first deposit (BOFD). In most cases, the BOFD will attempt to re-clear the check. If the payer's account was funded, Column will process the check and debit the payer's account. If there are insufficient funds in the payer's account or a stop payment instruction is in place, Column will return the check. At this point, the BOFD cannot re-clear the check.
Stop Payment Instruction
Customers may create a stop payment instruction on an issued check. This effectively "cancels" a check before a payee deposits the check. For example, stop payments may be used if the customer provided the wrong amount or recipient. Column may hold funds locked upon check issuance for up to 10 days after a stop payment instruction is received. During this period, the check transfer object will be in a pending_stop state. After the hold period is over, the check will move to a stopped state.
States and Events
Below are the states and events an issued check may go through.
| Stage | Webhook Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Issued | check.incoming_debit.issued | Column has successfully created the check with a unique check number. |
| Pending Deposit | check.incoming_debit.pending_deposit | The incoming debit has been received by Column and is about to be settled |
| Settled | check.incoming_debit.settled | The incoming debit has been settled at Column. |
| Pending First Return | check.incoming_debit.pending_first_return | The incoming debit is pending first return to the BOFD which can happen for a variety of reasons. |
| First Return | check.incoming_debit.first_return | The incoming debit has been successfully returned. |
| Pending Reclear | check.incoming_debit.pending_reclear | The incoming debit is pending reclear. |
| Pending Second Return | check.incoming_debit.pending_second_return | The incoming debit is pending a second return. |
| Second Return | check.incoming_debit.second_return | The incoming debit has been returned a second time. |
| User Initiated Return Submitted | check.incoming_debit.user_initiated_return_submitted | The user initiated return has been submitted. |
| User Initiated Returned | check.incoming_debit.user_initiated_returned | The payer has initiated a return. |
| User Initiated Return Dishonored | check.incoming_debit.user_initiated_return_dishonored | The user initiated return has been dishonored. |
| Pending Stop | check.incoming_debit.pending_stop | The payer has issued a stop payment instruction. Column will hold funds for up to 10 days. Cashed check attempts will be returned with return code C. |
| Stopped | check.incoming_debit.stopped | Held funds are now available to the customer. |
| Manual Review | check.incoming_debit.manual_review | The issued check is undergoing a manual review which will be approved or rejected by Column. This can be triggered for a variety of reasons. |
| Rejected | check.incoming_debit.rejected | The check transfer has been rejected by Column or by the Federal Reserve. |
Mailing Checks with Column
If you choose to print and mail a check with Column, we provide the delivery status of the check in the DeliveryStatus field in the check transfer object. Column provides webhooks every time the DeliveryStatus on the check transfer object is updated.
States and Events
| Status | Webhook Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Created | check.incoming_debit.delivery.created | The physical check has been successfully created. |
| Mailed | check.incoming_debit.delivery.mailed | The check has been handed off to and accepted by USPS and is en route. |
| In transit | check.incoming_debit.delivery.in_transit | The check is being processed at the entry/origin facility. |
| In local area | check.incoming_debit.delivery.in_local_area | The check is being processed at the destination facility. |
| Processed for delivery | check.incoming_debit.delivery.processed_for_delivery | The check has been greenlit for delivery at the recipient's nearest postal facility. The check should reach the mailbox within 1 business day of this tracking event. |
| Delivered | check.incoming_debit.delivery.delivered | The check has been delivered to the recipient’s address. The final scan is generated when the mail carrier's GPS unit leaves the delivery area. |
| Re-routed | check.incoming_debit.delivery.rerouted | The check is re-routed due to recipient change of address, address errors, or USPS relabeling of barcode/ID tag area. |
| Returned to sender | check.incoming_debit.delivery.returned_to_sender | The check is being returned to sender due to barcode, ID tag area, or address errors. |
| Failed | check.incoming_debit.delivery.failed | The physical check could not be delivered. |
Depositing Checks with Column
Below are the states and events a check deposited at Column may go through.
States and Events
| Stage | Webhook Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Review | check.outgoing_debit.manual_review | The deposited check is undergoing a manual review which will be approved or rejected by Column. This can be triggered for a variety of reasons. |
| Rejected | check.outgoing_debit.rejected | The check transfer has been rejected by Column or by the Federal Reserve. |
| Pending Deposit | check.outgoing_debit.pending_deposit | The check is ready to be sent to the Fed |
| Deposited | check.outgoing_debit.deposited | Column has provided an ICL file to the Fed to deposit the check. If the check is not returned after 2 business days, Column moves the check to a settled state. |
| Settled | check.outgoing_debit.settled | The deposited check (outgoing debit) has been settled. |
| Returned | check.outgoing_debit.returned | The deposited check (outgoing debit) has been returned. |
| Pending Reclear | check.outgoing_debit.pending_reclear | Column will attempt to reclear a check if returned with return reason A (NSF) or return reason B (UCF - Uncollected Funds Hold). |
| Recleared | check.outgoing_debit.recleared | Column has recleared the check. At this point the check will be returned, if the reclear attempt fails, or settled, if the check is recleared successfully. |