Transfer Failures

Overview

There are several reasons bank transfers can fail, a few of which are outlined below. When a transfer fails it is usually a result of an ACH failure which is assigned an ACH return code after being rejected from the financial institution. A few common failure examples include:

Insufficient Funds (R01): Pending transfers can fail due to insufficient funds from the source bank account.
No Account/Unable to Locate Account (R03): The recipient of a transfer has closed their bank account or has incorrectly entered their bank account/routing number when attaching their funding source.
Customer Advises Not Authorized (R10): The owner of a bank account has told their bank that this transfer was unauthorized.

Retrieving the transfer

You can check the status of a transfer at any time by retrieving the transfer via the API. When a bank transfer is unable to be completed, its status will be updated to failed. The response from the API when retrieving the transfer should contain a "failure" link that your application will follow to retrieve the transfer failure reason in the next step.

Example failure link

"failure": {
    "href": "https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/transfers/a1e58cd8-11ec-e811-8111-bec1f96924ed/failure",
    "type": "application/vnd.dwolla.v1.hal+json",
    "resource-type": "failure"
}

Retrieving the reason for a failed bank transfer

If your application is subscribed to , you’ll receive either the transfer_failed event if the transfer belongs to a Dwolla account or the customer_transfer_failed/customer_bank_transfer_failed(Verified Customer only) event if the transfer belongs to an API Customer. The event contains a links to the associated account as well as the transfer resource. When retrieving the failed bank transfer reason, the response will contain information on the ACH return code and description, as well as _links to the Funding Source and Customer that triggered the bank transfer failure.

Request and response

GET https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/transfers/8997ebed-69be-e611-80ea-0aa34a9b2388/failure
Accept: application/vnd.dwolla.v1.hal+json
Authorization: Bearer pBA9fVDBEyYZCEsLf/wKehyh1RTpzjUj5KzIRfDi0wKTii7DqY

{
    "_links": {
        "self": {
            "href": "https://api.dwolla.com/transfers/8997ebed-69be-e611-80ea-0aa34a9b2388/failure",
            "type": "application/vnd.dwolla.v1.hal+json",
            "resource-type": "failure"
        },
        "failed-funding-source": {
            "href": "https://api.dwolla.com/funding-sources/285ea6f4-c45d-4e15-ad33-21f51461f437",
            "type": "application/vnd.dwolla.v1.hal+json",
            "resource-type": "funding-source"
        },
        "customer": {
            "href": "https://api.dwolla.com/customers/be2d2322-fdee-4361-8722-4289f5601604",
            "type": "application/vnd.dwolla.v1.hal+json",
            "resource-type": "customer"
        }
    },
    "code": "R03",
    "description": "No Account/Unable to Locate Account",
    "explanation": "The account number does not correspond to the individual identified in the entry or a valid account."
}

transfer_url = 'https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/transfers/8997ebed-69be-e611-80ea-0aa34a9b2388'

# Using DwollaV2 - https://github.com/Dwolla/dwolla-v2-ruby
failure = app_token.get "#{transfer_url}/failure"
failure.code # => "R01"

<?php
$transfer = '8997ebed-69be-e611-80ea-0aa34a9b2388';

$TransfersApi = new DwollaSwagger\TransfersApi($apiClient);

$failureReason = $TransfersApi->failureById($transfer);
print($failureReason->code); # => "R01"
?>

transfer_url = 'https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/transfers/8997ebed-69be-e611-80ea-0aa34a9b2388'

# Using dwollav2 - https://github.com/Dwolla/dwolla-v2-python (Recommended)
failure = app_token.get('%s/failure' % transfer_url)
failure.body['code'] # => 'R01'

var transferUrl =
  "https://api-sandbox.dwolla.com/transfers/8997ebed-69be-e611-80ea-0aa34a9b2388";

dwolla.get(`${transferUrl}/failure`).then((res) => res.body.code); // => 'R01'

What occurs in the Dwolla system when a bank transfer fails?

When a bank transfer failure occurs there is a subset of systematic actions Dwolla may take on the Customer and/or the funding source based on the ACH return code. It is recommended to have an active webhook subscription, which is used to listen for events relating to any Customer or funding source state change. Please refer to the table below to understand the systematic actions that Dwolla may take for Customer and funding source resources, as well as the events that are created.

Systematic actions taken against the Customer

Customer action	Description	Webhook Event
None	No action taken against the Customer account as result of transfer failure	N/A
Deactivated	Customer account has been deactivated	`customer_deactivated`
Suspended	Customer account has been suspended (R10 only)	`customer_suspended`

Systematic actions taken against the bank funding source

Funding Source action	Description	Webhook Event
None	No action taken against the Customer bank funding source	N/A
Unverified	A Customer’s bank has been unverified, but not removed	`customer_funding_source_unverified`
Removed	A Customer’s bank has been removed	`customer_funding_source_removed`

Why does Dwolla automatically take these actions?

Being able to catch and take action errors can be beneficial on many levels. For instance, if your Customer initiates a transaction which fails with an R10 (Customer Advises Not Authorized) return code, Dwolla will automatically put the suspected Customer in a suspended status, thereby not allowing them to initiate or receive more transfers. This gives you the ability investigate the Customer to determine if they are a valid party without worrying about them sending funds. Other return codes may result in the Customer being deactivated, or may only affect bank funding sources in which Dwolla may automatically unverify or remove a bank in response to various return codes.

List of possible return codes, descriptions, and actions

Below are tables of the most common return codes we see involved in transactions, organized by category. For a full list of return codes, you can check out the ACH return code list on our blog.

As a best practice, we recommend handling any systematic actions that trigger webhooks as a result of a transfer failure rather than relying on the specific actions as referenced below. We do not recommend building a workflow around each individual return code in the tables below. These tables are solely meant to be a reference for you to be aware of actions Dwolla may take on common transfer failures.

Administrative Returns

Administrative returns occur when there’s an issue with the account itself—such as insufficient funds, a closed account, or invalid account information. These are typically returned within 2 banking days and generally don’t indicate fraudulent activity.

Code	Reason & Description	Return Time Frame	Triggered Action(s)
R01	Insufficient Funds Available balance is not sufficient to cover the dollar value of the debit entry.	2 banking days	None
R02	Bank Account Closed Previously active account has been closed.	2 banking days	Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed
R03	No Account/Unable to Locate Account Account number structure is valid, but does not match individual identified in entry or is not an open account.	2 banking days	Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed
R04	Invalid Bank Account Number Structure Account number structure is not valid.	2 banking days	Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed
R08	Payment Stopped The Receiver has requested the stop payment of a specific ACH debit entry.	2 banking days	Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed
R09	Uncollected Funds Sufficient balance exists, but value of uncollected items brings available balance below amount of debit entry.	2 banking days	None
R12	Branch Sold to Another DFI A financial institution received an entry to an account that was sold to another FI (typically due to a merger).	2 banking days	Funding Source Removed
R13	Invalid ACH Routing Number Entry contains a receiving DFI identification or gateway identification that is not a valid ACH routing number.	Next file delivery	Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R14	Representative Payee Deceased or Unable to Continue in That Capacity The representative payee is a person either deceased or no longer able to continue in original capacity (i.e. legally incapacitated adults or minors), while the beneficiary is not deceased.	2 banking days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Removed
R15	Beneficiary or Account Holder Deceased (1) The beneficiary is deceased, or (2) The account holder is deceased.	2 banking days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R16	Account Frozen/Entry Returned per OFAC Instruction (1) Access to the account is restricted due to specific action taken by the RDFI or by legal action; or (2) OFAC has instructed the RDFI to return the entry.	2 banking days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R17	File Record Edit Criteria/Entry with Invalid Account Number Initiated Under Questionable Circumstances (1) Field(s) cannot be processed by RDFI; or (2) The entry contains an invalid DFI Account Number (account closed/no account/unable to locate account/invalid account number) and is believed by the RDFI to have been initiated under questionable circumstances.	2 banking days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R20	Non-Transaction Account ACH entry to a non-transaction account (typically due to account holder exceeding their monthly withdrawal threshold under Regulation D).	2 banking days	Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R22	Invalid Individual ID Number The Receiver has indicated to the RDFI that the number with which the Originator identified is not correct.	2 banking days	Funding Source Unverified
R23	Credit Entry Refused by Receiver Any credit entry that is refused by the Receiver may be returned by the RDFI.	2 banking days	Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed

Unauthorized Returns

Unauthorized returns occur when the account holder claims they did not authorize the transaction. These are more serious and can be returned up to 60 calendar days after the settlement date. Due to the nature of these returns, Dwolla takes protective actions on the Customer account.

Unauthorized returns may indicate potential fraud or disputes. Dwolla automatically suspends or deactivates the Customer to protect against further unauthorized activity.

Code	Reason & Description	Return Time Frame	Triggered Action(s)
R05	Unauthorized Debit to Consumer Account Using Corporate SEC Code A CCD or CTX debit entry was transmitted to a consumer account and was not authorized by the Receiver. Written Statement is required.	60 calendar days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R07	Authorization Revoked by Customer Consumer who previously authorized entries has revoked authorization with the Originator. Written Statement is required.	60 calendar days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed
R10	Customer Advises Originator is Not Known to Receiver and/or Originator is Not Authorized by Receiver to Debit Receiver’s Account Receiver has no relationship with the Originator or has not authorized the Originator to debit the account. Written Statement is required.	60 calendar days	Customer Suspended Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R11	Customer Advises Entry Not in Accordance with the Terms of the Authorization The debit entry was inaccurate or improperly initiated. Other reasons include source document was ineligible, notice was not provided to the receiver or amount was inaccurately obtained. Written statement is required.	60 calendar days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed
R29	Corporate Customer Advises Not Authorized The RDFI has been notified by the Receiver (non-consumer) that a specific entry has not been authorized by the Receiver.	2 banking days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source

General Returns

These returns are initiated by the originating or receiving financial institution, or relate to specific transaction types like source documents or permissible returns. Return time frames vary.

Code	Reason & Description	Return Time Frame	Triggered Action(s)
R06	Returned per ODFI’s Request The ODFI has requested that the RDFI return an erroneous entry, or a credit entry originated without the authorization of the Originator.	Varies	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R31	Permissible Return (CCD and CTX only) The RDFI may return a CCD or CTX entry that the ODFI agrees to accept.	Varies	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R37	Source Document Presented for Payment Source document to which an ARC, BOC, or POP entry relates has been presented for payment. Written Statement is required.	60 calendar days	Funding Source Removed
R38	Stop Payment on Source Document The RDFI indicates a stop payment order has been placed on the source document the ARC or BOC entry relates to.	60 calendar days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source
R51	Item Related to RCK Entry is Ineligible or RCK Entry is Improper The RDFI notifies that the RCK entry is considered ineligible or improper. Written Statement is required.	60 calendar days	Customer Deactivated Funding Source Unverified Funding Source Removed Funding Source

Introduction

Getting Started

Funds Flows

Customers

Funding Sources

Transfers

Integrations

Webhooks & Notifications

Overview

Retrieving the transfer

Example failure link

Retrieving the reason for a failed bank transfer

Request and response

What occurs in the Dwolla system when a bank transfer fails?

Systematic actions taken against the Customer

Systematic actions taken against the bank funding source

Why does Dwolla automatically take these actions?

List of possible return codes, descriptions, and actions

Administrative Returns

Unauthorized Returns

General Returns

​Overview

​Retrieving the transfer

Example failure link

​Retrieving the reason for a failed bank transfer

Request and response

​What occurs in the Dwolla system when a bank transfer fails?

​Systematic actions taken against the Customer

​Systematic actions taken against the bank funding source

​Why does Dwolla automatically take these actions?

​List of possible return codes, descriptions, and actions

​Administrative Returns

​Unauthorized Returns

​General Returns

Overview

Retrieving the transfer

Retrieving the reason for a failed bank transfer

What occurs in the Dwolla system when a bank transfer fails?

Systematic actions taken against the Customer

Systematic actions taken against the bank funding source

Why does Dwolla automatically take these actions?

List of possible return codes, descriptions, and actions

Administrative Returns

Unauthorized Returns

General Returns