Special Points of Interest: 

Modernizing the Lockboxes 1

Pay.gov Changes 1

Centralized Receivables Service 2

The Robots Are Coming 3

Electronic Check Processing 4

Card Acquiring Service Updates 5

Collections Information Repository Updates 

OTCnet Updates 

Revenue 

Collections 

Management

Spring 2019

Collections 

Chronicle

 News You Can Use

6

7
Post office boxes. They still exist. But most organizations 

have expanded and updated their approach to processing 

mail. Email, texts, and online electronic forms are easier 

for most customers. For organizations, putting an end to 

paper processes saves a lot of money. So, let’s talk about 

Treasury lockboxes and our goal to transform collections.

Treasury lockboxes are post office boxes that are created 

to receive payments and remittances from citizens 

for products and services, including passports and 

citizenship applications.

Treasury lockboxes are a safe and effective way to 

accelerate the processing of payments to Treasury’s 

General Account. Although lockboxes improve the 

accuracy of check processing, the work is labor intensive:

opening, extracting, sorting, and keying in data.

Treasury supports four networks of lockboxes for federal 

tax payments, passport and custom forms processing, 

and general remittance services. Fiscal Service is 

working toward modernizing these lockboxes. We are 

utilizing advanced technologies to reduce timeconsuming manual processes. Mail can now be sorted by 

a machine. There are other exciting initiatives under way 

to allow for virtual submission of check imaging copies to 

a secure online drop box. And, remote keying can provide 

support during heavy peak times and make the entire 

process more efficient for all.

These initiatives will provide cost savings for taxpayers 

and will improve the existing process. 

Learn more about the work that the Lockbox Team is 

doing to modernize their process at: 

https://fiscal.treasury.gov/gln/

PAY.GOV CHANGES: 

Say Hello to the New Pay.gov Website

Effective November 30, 2018, segments of the 

Pay.gov public website were redesigned to enhance the 

customer experience by making it easier for customers to 

make the most common payments. The Home page, a 

new Explore More Options page, and the Before You 

Begin page have been refreshed and the design 

complies with U.S. Government web design standards for 

usability and accessibility.

Contact the Pay.gov Team at pay.gov@fiscal.treasury.gov 

with any questions or concerns.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

We offer financial education and support to federal 

employees and agency customers through customer 

forums, in-person and web-based training sessions, and 

conferences. These are valuable opportunities for us to 

work together to improve the way the federal government 

manages its finances and delivers administrative and 

operational services. Visit our training and events

websites to register for an upcoming training session or 

event.

1 back to cover page

DID YOU KNOW?

Pay.gov processed 200 million transactions and 

collected $160 billion in federal revenues during 

FY18. Contact us at arm@fiscal.treasury.gov for 

more information on the services Pay.gov provides!

MODERNIZING 

THE LOCKBOXES
2

CENTRALIZED

RECEIVABLES

SERVICE

Managing Collections So You Don’t Have To

We all need more time for ourselves, right? Let’s 

talk about the Centralized Receivables Service

platform that is part of the Fiscal Service’s Financial

Management vision to transform accounts receivable 

processing.

The Centralized Receivables Service (CRS) helps 

agencies manage accounts receivable. It increases 

collections and contributes to the reduction of 

delinquent debt. CRS is a one-stop shop service that

can take the work off your plate.

CRS manages pre-delinquent debt in the early stages 

of delinquency before it becomes eligible for referral.

It allows debtors to make payments in a timely way 

using payment channels like Pay.gov, accessed from an 

easy-to-follow portal. Participating agencies do not need 

to send out account receivable letters or perform a 

search for the most recent address because CRS will 

do it for them. CRS helps agencies reduce delinquency 

rates and comply with federal claims collection 

standards.

The bottom line? CRS is providing cost savings to 

federal agencies and making it easier for customers to 

make payments. Exciting news for the American taxpayers!

Which agencies are participating? 

The Department of Defense, the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Education - to 

name a few. According to a Centralized Receivables 

Service partner, “Navy Medicine has no plans to 

revert back to the old pre-CRS set of processes. DCIA 

compliance is up, collections are up, and collection 

costs are down.” 

Learn more about the Centralized Receivables Service 

at:https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/crs

Did You Know?

21 agencies are currently using Fiscal Service 

Mobile applications for 27 cash flows, and collected 

over $12.5 million dollars during FY18.

back to cover page
Last year’s 

award-winning 

Incubator Initiative 

launched its sixth 

iteration with a focus 

on Robotics. Revenue 

Collections Management 

(RCM) is committed to breaking 

down dated approaches to 

management and operations, 

and has provided the Incubator 

team the opportunity to find efficiencies and 

improve the public’s perception of the federal 

government. RCM wanted to explore what type of 

automation and innovation technologies would benefit federal 

employees and the public. 

The eCommerce branch of RCM partnered with four industry 

leaders, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, and 

eighteen participants across the Fiscal Service. Participants 

brainstormed by investigating the allocation of high-value 

resources to low-value repetitive tasks that could be 

automated with robotic hardware. The teams looked at 

processes across the Fiscal Service and proposed three 

solutions with associated use cases. 

The executive leadership team reviewed the proposed 

solutions and selected the most promising one. Participants 

in the lab will have 90 days to build a prototype. The concept 

will be handed off to developers to do the coding necessary 

to bring the idea to life. After the prototype is designed, the 

executive team will decide on how to proceed with a pilot 

program for the prototype.

THE ROBOTS 

ARE COMING:

A CLOSER 

LOOK AT 

ROBOTICS 

IN REVENUE COLLECTIONS

3 back to cover page
4

Electronic Check Processing (ECP) is a web-based

application used by government agencies and

Treasury’s Lockbox financial agents to convert

paper checks into Automated Clearing House (ACH)

transactions or Check21 items. This application

supports approximately 1,200 users from 73 federal

agencies and financial institutions, and in FY 2018

processed over 98 million transactions valued at more

than $485 billion.

ECP is used to view and research check transactions

and their remittance information. Agencies that utilize

lockbox services should have access to ECP. ECP

receives files from the financial agent, and forwards the

check information to the Debit Gateway application,

which then settles the transactions electronically.

ECP provides settlement and return data to CIR to

assist agencies with their reporting needs. There are

four main research methods in ECP: Payment Query,

Remittance Query, Replacement Search, and

Image Search.

Why should my agency use ECP?

ECP offers:

• Accessibility: Web-based application available

24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Agency users

have direct access to the status of every item being

processed from the moment it is received in ECP.

• Efficiency: Accepts lockbox and mobile check

capture transactions. Facilitates conversion of

paper checks into ACH or Check 21 transactions.

Accelerates high volume collections and reduces fund

collection costs.

• Research/Reporting: Capability to browse and

search for specific remittance and/or check image

documents. Provides detailed information regarding

remittance and accounting data. Several reports offer

a detailed look at agency transactions and history.

• Security: ECP resides on Treasury Web

Application Infrastructure (TWAI). TWAI is a highly

secure environment.

My agency has access to ECP, but is probably not 

utilizing its full functionality. Is there ECP training 

available for agencies?

Yes, there is a quarterly ECP Training via WebEx 

available for federal agencies. Please contact ECP 

Customer Service to register.

How can I get more information 

about ECP or request access?

Website: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/ecp/

Fiscal Service ECP Program: ECP@fiscal.treasury.gov

ECP Customer Service via phone: (866) 855-5735 

or by email FiscalService.ECP@citi.com

back to cover page

ELECTRONIC CHECK PROCESSING

What can Electronic Check Processing do for Federal Agencies?
5

Points of Contact: Why You Should Keep 

Your Information Up-to-date

The Card Acquiring Service (CAS) will be embarking 

on several agency-facing endeavors during FY19 and 

we want YOU to be in the know. To remain abreast 

of critical updates about the CAS program, agencies 

should ensure all contact information for your card 

servicing account(s) is up-to-date. 

Did you know that CAS manages three (3) Points 

of Contact (POC) for each agency’s card servicing 

account? CAS POC types include Chain, Merchant 

Identifier (MID), and Billing. Each contact type has 

specific roles and responsibilities that outline how to

properly assist and educate agency personnel on CAS 

program updates. CAS POCs are specified as follows:

Chain POC

The Chain POC is the highest level contact within the 

CAS hierarchy. This contact will serve as the subject 

matter expert for the CAS program relationship. Due 

to the interactive partnership with the program, the 

Chain POC owns the role of lead liaison for any CAS 

program related projects, unless otherwise specified. 

The Chain POC should disseminate program-related 

information and/or communications to agency 

representatives as well as approve any modifications 

to the card servicing account.

Merchant Identifier POC

The Merchant Identifier (MID) POC is the second line 

contact within the CAS hierarchy. This contact should 

be familiar with the day-to-day operations for the 

point of sale devices and/or software used under the 

card servicing chain. As a MID POC, a partnership 

should be formed with the Chain POC, if applicable, in 

order to adequately inform agency personnel of any 

CAS program-related information, updates, or 

changes. 

Billing POC

The Billing POC is responsible for addressing any 

funding, operations, or service-related questions 

pertaining to the card servicing account. 

The goal is for the CAS program to efficiently

communicate with our customers and the only way

that can be done is by ensuring that our POC

information remains updated. Please take the time

to review your CAS program contact types at

least once annually to ensure that CAS has the most

up-to-date information regarding your agency POCs. If

any agency has questions regarding POC management

expectations, please feel free to contact us via email at:

CardAcquiringService@fiscal.treasury.gov.

CAS Webinar Series – Do You Understand

the CAS Card Rules?

CAS plans to host a series of webinars to discuss

various topics around the CAS Card Rules. The purpose

of these webinars is to provide education and training

to our agency partners who utilize services provided by

CAS. Mandatory employee training credit opportunities

will be available for Fiscal Service employees and

partner agency participants.

Partner agencies must work with their internal

Training Coordinator to receive credit for training

courses completed. These are exciting opportunities

for agencies to learn more about CAS, payments, and

processes. Look for information on registration, times,

and topics on the CAS website.

If you have any card rule-related topics or questions 

that you would like discussed during the series,

please contact the CAS Agency Outreach mailbox:

cardacquiringservice@fiscal.treasury.gov.

back to cover page

CARD ACQUIRING

SERVICE UPDATES
6

COLLECTIONS 

INFORMATION

REPOSITORY 

UPDATES

Collections Information 

Repository User Interface Redesign

On November 10, 2018, the Collections Information 

Repository (CIR) was enhanced with a new look and 

feel. The following are some of the pages that were 

enhanced:

•CIR Home Pages (Public and Private)

•Footer page

•View Files page

•Manage ALC Group

•View User Profile

At this time, we are seeking feedback from our users.

We would like to hear your thoughts on the new look

and feel of the website. As a user of the CIR, your

feedback is very important to us. Please take a few

minutes and complete a 4 question survey.

The link for the survey is as follows:

https://www.research.net/r/CIR-UI-feedback

System-to-System: Connecting Securely with CIR

System-to-System (S2S) is a network connection 

between federal agencies and the Collections 

Information Repository (CIR) that allows the agencies to 

receive XML files directly to a specific landing zone 

(e.g., mainframe, servers). CIR's downstream partners 

receive collections information to meet their financial 

management and reporting needs. CIR’s downstream 

partners include federal agencies, Central Accounting 

Reporting System (CARS), Treasury Cash Management 

System (TCMS), CashTrack, Bank Management System 

(BMS) and the Financial Information Repository (FIR). 

The information collected by downstream partners is 

reported to the appropriate entities for daily 

reconciliation processes.

The S2S process begins with CIR conducting an 

overview presentation. During this presentation, the 

steps, timeframe, and documentation necessary are 

outlined to implement a S2S project. Next, a 

network connection must be established between 

the agency and the CIR. Finally, the agencies must 

provide CIR with a Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU) and the Inter-Connection Security Agreement 

to complete the process.

The benefits of a S2S project include:

Service is free of charge - There is no cost associated

with receiving the extracts. However, there could be a

cost for the acquisition of the necessary software.

Reporting - The CIR provides the latest information on 

deposits and details of collections transactions to 

federal agencies.

Security - Access to CIR data is secured in accordance 

with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act 

(FISMA) of 2014, Public Law 113-283, as well as other 

federal laws and regulations for IT systems security. 

Overall, the network connection allows financial 

transactions information from all collections systems 

to be exchanged and streamlined for reporting in a 

single system.

For more information, contact the CIR team at: 

CIR-Info@fiscal.treasury.gov

back to cover page
7

OVER THE 

COUNTER

NETWORK 

UPDATES

Release 2.9 is Now Live!

OTCnet Release 2.9 aims to enhance the user 

experience by introducing Firmware version 3.1.2 

as a replacement for 3.1.0

User-Facing Changes:

• Introduction of Firmware 3.1.2: The OTCnet team is

releasing a new firmware version, Firmware 3.1.2, as

a replacement for Firmware 3.1.0. Firmware 3.1.2 will

address known issues with the Magnetic Ink Character

Recognition Code (MICR) and franking issues with RDM

scanners in Firmware 3.1.0.

• As a reminder, Firmware 1.5.1 and 1.6.0 retired on

December 31, 2018. If your agency used Firmware

1.5.1 or 1.6.0, you should immediately upgrade your

Firmware to versions 2.0.0 or 3.1.2. Please be advised

that Firmware 3.1.2 is only compatible with the OLB.

Firmware 2.0.0 is compatible with both the OLB and

Java Applets.

Bank of America Foreign Currency Check 

Deposit Threshold Notice

Please be advised that Bank of America has a foreign 

currency check deposit threshold of $50,000.00 

USD per day. When attempts are made to deposit 

foreign checks over $50,000.00, users will receive the 

following error message:

“The Foreign Currency Check Deposit exceeds the 

Bank of America Daily Rate threshold amount of 

$50,000.00. Please use one of the below processing 

options and re-submit your request. If you require 

additional assistance, please contact Bank of America 

at FX Support at 1-866-249-7965 Option 3 for more 

information”.

To resolve the error message, please follow one of the 

two steps listed below that most closely relates to your 

current deposit.

1. If a Deposit Voucher contains a single check above

$50K, please recreate the Deposit Voucher and select

“Other” from the Country of Deposit drop down and

proceed.

2. If a Deposit Voucher contains two or more checks

that sum up to >$50K, please create two or more

separate Deposit Vouchers and obtain the Daily Rate

quote for each.

Duplicate Check Scan Reminder

The OTCnet Team would like to remind you to avoid 

processing the same check items through OTCnet more 

than once. This includes scanning a check item through 

OTCnet and then depositing the same check item at a 

local bank.

To avoid having duplicate transactions in OTCnet, 

complete the following: 

1. Review your agency’s check scanning procedures

• Search for the check using the CIRA Record

if you believe it has already been processed.

Detailed instructions can be found HERE.

2. Handle check items appropriately when scanning

• Return the check to the customer if your

agency scans items in-person, or

• Have safeguards that ensure scanned items

are kept separate from unscanned items if your

agency collects checks when the customer is not

present or through back office operations

Please note: The Treasury Financial Manual outlines 

that checks processed through OTCnet should 

be destroyed no later than 5 business days after 

reception. Checks can be shredded or disposed using 

agency-approved methods of disposal for documents 

containing Personally Identifiable Information (PII). 

back to cover page
3. Stamp check items after processing them

through OTCnet

• Hand stamp all checks after scanning and

successfully completing the transaction.

• Automatically stamp check items with words

such as “Electronically Presented” if your

agency is using the EC6000i, EC601X,

EC7000i, EC9000i, EC9100i, and Panini I:

Deal scanners.

To view scanner options that support automatic 

stamping of checks, please click the following link.

Automated Teller Machine Deposit Card

As banking becomes more electronic and automated, 

the Bureau of the Fiscal Service sees these changes 

as opportunities to improve our own efficiency, 

transparency, and the safety of our workers. That’s 

why the Fiscal Service and the Federal Reserve Bank

(FRB) of St. Louis are working with Bank of America,

Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan Chase and have identified

convenient ATM locations for making your deposits and

avoiding teller lines.

ATM deposits work just like your personal deposits,

allowing checks and cash (no coins) to be deposited

with a deposit-only ATM card at any time of day, at any

Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or JP Morgan Chase ATM.

Please contact the Fiscal Service point of contacts

below if you are interested in using the ATM Deposit

Card at your agency. We will discuss next steps and

look to prioritize transitions for locations that have 

small to mid-size volume as well as those not using 

a courier service.

Reginald McKinney

Reginald.McKinney@fiscal.treasury.gov

Maurice Alston

Maurice.Alston@fiscal.treasury.gov

Updated OTCnet Website Layout

The Fiscal Service has recently updated the OTCnet

website layout! All of the content you are familiar with is

still there, and we invite you to check out the new site.

Below, we have included links to guide you through the

new website. Even though the OTCnet webpage has

been redesigned, the OTCnet (Production) login page

remains unchanged. Please visit our newly redesigned

WEBSITE for more information.

Reminder

OTCnet Training Materials

The OTCnet Team would like to remind you of the wide 

variety of training available on demand. The OTCnet 

Team offers training resources such as Quick Guides, 

User Guides, Printable Job Aids, and “Show Me and Let 

Me Try”.

All Web-based Training can be found on the Fiscal 

Service OTCnet website.

8 back to cover page
9

CONTACT US

For information about RCM’s programs and services, please contact your Agency Relationship Manager or 

the Agency Relationship Management (ARM) Division via the ARM inbox: arm@fiscal.treasury.gov. 

For a complete listing of Revenue Collections Management programs and services, please click HERE!

Facebook: @FiscalService

Twitter: @FiscalService

YouTube: Fiscal Service

OLB Rollout Resources

Thank you for your ongoing support in your agency’s OTCnet Local Bridge (OLB) rollout! We ask that you keep up 

the great work and continue onboarding terminals to the OLB. 

As a reminder, the OTCnet Team has a number of resources available to you on demand, including YouTube 

videos on how to create your OLB credentials (reset OLB password) and how to import an OLB profile. For your 

convenience, we have included a list of resources below:

YouTube Videos:

•Step 1 - How to Configure IE Settings

•Step 2 - How to Download the OLB Installation Package

•Step 3 - How to Install the OLB Installation Package

•Step 4 - How to Verify Installation of Certificate

•Step 5 - How to Create OLB Credentials

•Step 6 - How to Import an OLB Profile

•Step 7 - How to Start and Stop the OLB

OLB Resource Library:

All OLB resources can be accessed at the OLB Web page. 

back to cover page
Bureau of the Fiscal Service

1

OTCnet Printable Job Aid

View Administrative Reports: CIR File Status

To view a CIR file status report, complete the following steps:

1. From the Reports tab, click Deposit Processing Reports. The View Reports page 

appears. 

2. Under Administration Reports, click View CIR File Status. The View CIR File Status page 

appears. 

The Collections Information Repository (CIR) was formerly referred to as Transaction 

Reporting System (TRS).

3. Under the Transmission(s) Not Processed section, click a Transmission ID of the CIR 

transmission details you must view.

Or

Under the All Transmission(s) section, click a Transmission ID of the CIR transmission 

details or processing errors you must view.

• If a Transmission ID with Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) CL CA$HLINK Type is 

selected, the CIR Transmission Status (FRB) report appears in a new window. 

• If a Transmission ID with CLII CA$HLINK Type is selected, the CIR Transmission 

Status (FI) report appears in a new window.

• There are two sections on the View CIR File Transmission Status page. The

Transmission(s) Not Processed section displays report files that have not been 

successfully processed by CIR.

• The All Transmission(s) section displays all deposit report files regardless of 

transmission status or success.

4. The View CIR Transmission Status preview page appears.

Under Export as, you have the following options:

o Select PDF, Excel or Word format

o Click Download

Or

o Print PDF Report

5. For further debit or adjustment voucher details, click the Voucher # hyperlink. The Deposit 

or Adjustment Voucher Detail report appears.

Application Tip

Application Tips
Bureau of the Fiscal Service

2

OTCnet Printable Job Aid

6. Click Open, Save or Cancel.

7. The DepositVoucherDetail_XXX.pdf or AdjustmentVoucherDetail_ XXXX.pdf report appears

as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Adjustment-Voucher Detail PDF

• Click Open the PDF is displayed. 

• Click Save choose the location where to save the file. 

• Click Cancel to return to the View CIR File Status preview page.

• Click Previous to return to the previous page.

Additional Buttons