The document discusses ACH (Automated Clearing House) transactions and how they currently work in the community association management (CAM) industry. It notes that while ACH has been around since the 1970s, the file format is unencrypted and insecure. This exposes sensitive personal information to potential fraud when files are transmitted electronically. The document promotes TOPS [ONE] as offering a more secure payment processing system that mitigates these risks for homeowners, communities, and management companies.

1. Let’sTalk about ACH
Automated Clearing HouseTransfers

2. An ACH transaction is a
federally-assisted transfer of
funds between financial
institutions.

3. The ACH Network is used
throughout the United States
for all financial transfers, such
as direct deposit and online
bill pay.

4. The ACH Network moves
almost $39 trillion and 22
billion electronic financial
transactions each year.

5. But there is a fly
in the ointment

6. ACH is OldTechnology
ACH has been around since the 1970’s. Back then, it was
hard to imagine how important it would be to secure
important data in our modern technologic age. And in
the creator’s wildest dreams they could not predict how
important the ACH network would become to us.
ACH Files
Please deliver to the bank

7. When ACH was
conceived, the most
important aspect of the
file format was that it
was easy and fast.
Security did not factor in.

8. This is a Sample ACH Request
• PlainText – No encryption or obfuscation may be added to the file.
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII) – Anyone with access to a file can
see enough info to convincingly commit fraud or identity theft.
Your bank info
Amount to pay
Payee
Payee bank info

9. ACH is Insecure
Because the file cannot be encrypted or obfuscated,
plain text info is sent over the Internet.This can easily
be intercepted, and used to commit fraud.
Even banks use plain text file transfers, but they do it
over a secured connection to the ACH network.
Unfortunately, you do not have that luxury.
This data
transfer is
NOT secure…

10. ACH is NOT Free
Banks absorb the overt fees ofACH because they are
making interest off the moneys in holding accounts.
But hidden fees are still often passed on to consumers
in the form of bank fees, transfer delays, and other
tactics.

11. ACH IN THE
COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION
MANAGEMENT
INDUSTRY
A Little Bit of History:

12. In the beginning…
ACH files fromTOPS were designed to be delivered
to the bank by hand.This was inherently secure, as
nobody could access the files without the physical
disk they were stored on.
This quickly became the standard in the CAM
industry.
ACH Files
Please deliver to the bank

13. An industry standard
Despite changing technologies, the method of
handling ACH transactions in the CAM industry has
stayed the same… Except today, we send them via
much less secure means – like email.
To: Bank
RE: ACH Files

14. Falling Behind
Other Property Management verticals have
ceased generating ACH files and have
moved to secure payment provider systems
instead.
The CAM industry has fallen behind.

15. MAINTAINING THE STATUS
QUO IS NOT AN OPTION

16. No Legal Protection
Despite the inherent dangers of the currentACH system,
bank accounts and other PII (Personally Identifiable
Information) are not protected under the same laws that
protect businesses in cases of credit card fraud.
This means if a breach does occur as a result of ACH,
your clients will holdYOU responsible.

17. How ACH works now
(TOPS Pro,TOPS iQ and other CAM industry competitors)
Client maintains
ACH data on own
servers
Transmits ACH
requests to bank
Bank submits ACH
requests to Federal
Reserve
ACH request
processed
Receipts deposited
into community’s
bank account
Risk is borne by Management
Company and Homeowner

18. How ACH Should Work
(This is how it works inTOPS [ONE] and most other PM verticals)
Client submitsACH
requests to secure
server
Payment processing
engine securely
storesACH data
Payment processor
transmitsACH
requests to Federal
Reserve
ACH request
processed
Receipts deposited
into community’s
bank account
Risk is borne by Secure
Payment Processor

19. TOPS [ONE] & ACH
InTOPS [ONE] we are realigning the
way we do ACH to a more secure,
modern, technological approach.
ACH transactions are available
throughAutopay in the Owner
Access feature ofTOPS [ONE].

20. Homeowner Benefits
The entire process is
visible in real time to the
homeowner. No more
mixed signals!
Enrollment can be done
online, in just a few clicks.
No need to fill out a form
for the bank anymore.
The homeowner has full
control over bank transfers.
They can stop or start them
at any time.
MoreVisibility Easier Enrollment Complete Control
1 2 3

21. Community Benefits
Forget about ‘The check’s
in the mail’ and other
excuses. See in real time
when payments are made.
Fees are paid up front by the
homeowner when they pay
their assessment so there is
no cost (or income lost) from
ACH transactions for the
community.
The community does not
need to store homeowner
bank account info.This can
reduce fraud and ease fear.
OnTime Assessments No Cost toYou Risk Mitigation
1 2 3

22. Management Company Benefits
Eliminate manual cleanup
for failed transactions.
You can choose to
automatically apply NSF
fees when auto payments
fail.
Managing payment setup
is a one-time process that
keeps working for you.
Post When Cleared Automated NSF Set It & Forget It
1 2 3

23. Compare ACH Processing Fees
ACH Provider / Software Company ACH Fee Structure
Quickbooks $ .50 per transaction
Buildium $ .50 per transaction
Appfolio $ 1.25 per home per month includesACH fee
PaySimple $ .55 per transaction
PayLease $ 2.95 - $ 3.95 perACH retail rate
Revo Pay $ 2.95 perACH retail
Yapstone $ 2.95 perACH retail
TOPS [ONE] $ .50 per transaction (paid by homeowner)

24. For less than the cost of a
postage stamp, homeowners
can pay their dues online,
check their balance, review
their payment history,
submit service requests and
more.
HomeownersWin

25. Link to the owner portal on
your existing website or
skip the website altogether,
and just give homeowners
access to their data.
CommunitiesWin

26. Reduce incoming phone
calls from homeowners
with balance inquiries and
requests for payment
history.
Management
CompaniesWin

27. TOPS [ONE] is changing the
way community association
management is done. Learn
more aboutTOPS [ONE]
today!
GetTOPS [ONE]
www.tops-one.com/one
800-760-9966

28. ThankYou!