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About NWCHA
The Northwest Clearing House Association (NWCHA) is a nonprofit trade association,
providing over 190 members with education, training, marketing, technical and
problem solving support for electronic payment systems and check clearing.
Since the late 1800's, the Clearing House of Seattle has provided check clearing
services to financial institutions in Washington. In 1974, the Northwest Automated
Clearing House was created to bring Automated Clearing House (ACH) capability to
Alaska and Washington. These two associations merged in 1984 to form NWCHA.
NWCHA is a member of the NACHA - the Electronic Payments Association; 19 regional
associations nationwide form the cooperative foundation of the Automated Clearing
House, America's largest electronic payments network. The ACH network currently
carries over seven billion transactions annually, including direct deposit of payroll
and Social Security benefits, direct payment of consumer utility, membership, loan
and tax payments, and various corporate to corporate payments.
Although the ACH network has experienced tremendous growth, its percentage of the total
payments system remains small compared to the forty-two billion checks written in 2001.
New technologies may someday live up to the expectations and predictions of a digital
payments system. Through its affiliation with NACHA, NWCHA informs its members
about these emerging technologies. Financial Electronic Data Interchange (FEDI),
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), Electronic Check Presentment (ECP), Electronic
Bill Presentment and Payment and the Internet all have the capacity to dramatically
change the way the world does business. NACHA and NWCHA are working hard to help their
members understand new and emerging technologies in addition to ACH and check clearing.
The Northwest Clearing House Association Board of Directors is
made up of middle and senior level managers from savings banks, credit unions, small
business banks and government/corporate members. These individuals volunteer their time
to set the strategic direction of the association.
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