I need to obtain a good baseline for what banks charge merchants (not
consumers) for returned ACH transactions.  For traditional checks,
returned checks can cost a merchant $5 to $25 (roughly).  However, I
need to determine what a merchant is charged for returned ACH
transactions.  NOTE: This charge will likely vary depending on the
bank ... so I really need a small, unscientific survey or a reference
to where this is emphatically anwered by a trusted source like
GreenSheet.com, NACHA.org, etc.

For a bonus, if you come across information regarding return rates on
ACH (i.e., percentage of time that ACH transactions fail for NSF,
closed account, or other reason), I will reward you accordingly.

<ACH.
I found a range of charges for ACH from some banks offering free
deposits up to $0.35 per item. Fees for returns varied from as low as
$2.00 to as high as $15. First Community Bank had the lowest returns
fee at $2.00 it also has a low charge for ACH at $0.05.
http://www.fsbnm.com/business/business-fee-schedule.html

Return rate.
A study carried out in 2000 found that the return rate for ACH is 1.3%
on over half a million transactions.
The most common reason was NSF ? 0.69%. Second was administrative errors.
Unauthorized transactions accounted for 0.07%
http://www.visionshape.com/ach_article.html

This study found a return rate of 1% on 9200 transactions.
http://66.102.11.104/search?q=cache:SsVjY9CCjtwJ:www.afponline.org/an02_slides/session83.ppt++ach+benefits+%22return+rate%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

------------------------------------------------------
Fees charged by banks.

First Community Bank.
ACH - $0.05 per item
Returns - $2.00
http://www.fsbnm.com/business/business-fee-schedule.html

First Federal Bank
ACH - $0.35
Return item - $5 plus sales tax.
http://www.firstfederalbank.com/InternetBanking/fees.cfm
http://www.scbusa.com/business/biz_checking.shtml

First Federal Savings Bank
$10 monthly service fee, $0.20 for each deposit.
$6 for returns.
http://www.ffsbky.com/site/business.html

Sacramento Commercial Bank
ACH - $0.10 per item.
Return - $5
http://www.scbusa.com/business/biz_schedule.shtml
http://www.scbusa.com/business/biz_checking.shtml

Mid Wisconsin Investment Center.
ACH fees - Per file, up to 100 items - $15, additional $5 per each
additional 100 items on the file.
Return fees - $15 per item.
http://www.midwisc.com/BBChkFees.htm

National Interbank Banking Center
ACH transactions free
Return items - $15
http://www.nationalinterbank.com/nib/business_products/fees.asp

ACH - $0.10 per item
http://www.lafayettesavingsbank.com/busfees.htm

Nexity bank
ACH returned - $5.00
http://www.nexitybank.com/info/fees.asp

Progressive Ozark Bank - $5.00
http://www.progressiveozarkbank.com/rates.htm

ACH returned item - $10
http://www.aagsystems.com/ezbcosts.htm>


<Additional links:>

ACH helps customer retention.
Metropolitan life has 50% fewer policy cancellations amongst its ACH customers.
http://www.platinumn.com/achpayment.html

Benefits of ACH
http://www.sfe.org/ach_benefits.html


<Search strategy:>

<"ach"  "business checking" fees return>
<://www.google.com/search?q=%22ach%22++%22business+checking%22+fees+return&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N>

<"ach"  "business checking" fees "per item">
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22ach%22++%22business+checking%22+fees+%22per+item%22>

<"ach"  business fees "per item">
<://www.google.com/search?q=%22ach%22++business+fees+%22per+item%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=20&sa=N>

<ach benefits "return rate">
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=+ach+benefits+%22return+rate%22>


<Hope this helps.>

I really appreciate the detail taken in the research.  I also
appreciate the layout of the response.  Even my bonus question was
answered!