Patent ID: 7881996

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for screening an automated clearinghouse (“ACH”) item between a sending customer and a receiving customer, comprising the steps of: receiving a NACHA formatted ACH file comprising the ACH item from a first financial institution; determining at a screening module whether at least one of the sending customer and the receiving customer is identified on an interdiction list, the interdiction list comprising information identifying at least one person or entity that is prohibited from conducting a financial transaction; and in response to the foregoing determining step, the screening module inserting an indicator in the NACHA formatted ACH file, the indicator for use in further processing of the ACH file and being associated with the ACH item and indicating whether the at least one of the sending customer and the receiving customer is identified on the interdiction list, wherein the screening module is implemented in a computer system that comprises instructions stored in a machine-readable medium and a processor that executes the instructions.