BAI CASH MANAGEMENT BALANCE REPORTING SPECIFICATIONS VERSION 2
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Where can I get a copy of the BAI Cash Management Balance Reporting Specifications?
A: The BAI Cash Management Balance Reporting Specifications Version 2 (also known as BAI2) is available free of charge in Adobe Acrobat format. Download a copy now.
Q: Where can I obtain a list of BAI transaction codes?
A: The list of codes is available in Appendix A of BAI2.
Q: Will BAI create new standard codes if they’re needed as new products are developed?
A: No. BAI no longer updates or supports BAI2 . The specifications manual describes how banks may create custom codes to meet new product needs. Refer to pages 5 and 45 in the manual. Please also see the next question.
Q: How does a bank create custom type codes?
A: When BAI developed the format, it made provisions for creating custom codes using the series of numbers from 900 to 999. These numbers are broken down into three ranges. The range 900-929 is for status codes (opening balance, available balance, outstanding loan balance, etc.), 930-959 for summary and detail credit codes, and 960-999 for summary and detail debit codes. To implement a new code, a bank simply chooses a number from the appropriate range, assigns a description to it and informs its customers of the change. Minor system changes are required to add the new code to both the bank’s and the customer’s type code tables.
Q: Where can I obtain a list of worldwide currency codes?
A: The list of currency codes is maintained by SWIFT, the international financial industry messaging cooperative. Obtain the list by visiting their Web site at http://www.swift.com/ and clicking on Products & Services. The currency code table in Appendix B of the BAI2 specifications manual is current as of June 2005.
Q: Can you supply an example of a BAI2 format file? We want to compare the electronic file that our bank provides when we download a statement to the file that our software appears to be expecting.
A: The BAI2 manual contains a sample file with full explanation of the coding in Appendix D, pages 89-92.
Q: How does a bank convert between the SWIFT message format and the BAI format?
A: This information is provided in Appendix E of the Balance Reporting manual, starting at page 93. Both code types and record layouts are provided.
Q: Does BAI offer software to support the balance-reporting format?
A: BAI does not offer any software for the format. BAI is aware that the following companies have products that provide balance reporting using the format. BAI does not endorse any software product or company.
- VECTORsgi, Dallas Texas
- CheckFree Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia
Q: Do any personal finance managers (e.g., Quicken) support BAI2?
A: None that we are aware of.
Q: Is there a certification program for applications that use BAI2?
A: No, the industry never developed certification involving BAI2.
Q: Is there any software that automatically supplies BAI codes where needed?
A: None that we are aware of.
Q: Does BAI have a tool that validates conformity to BAI2?
A: No. We are not aware of any such tool.
Q: Is there a limit on the number of characters in the amount field?
A: There is no limit on the number of characters in the amount field. But some banks have chosen to limit the number of characters in the whole record (this is done in the 01 file header record), and this could restrict the number of characters in the amount field. The reason for setting a total record length limit dates back to the time when punch cards were used to input data. The cards were limited to 80 characters per line. Refer to page 15 in the manual for more detailed information.
Q: We are trying to separate commercial clients’ merchant services (bankcard) deposits from other deposits in their daily reporting. We have located BAI2 code 147 for bankcard deposit, but we cannot locate corresponding debit codes for bankcard adjustments or merchant fees. Can you help?
A: There are no standard debit codes for card transactions. But a bank can create custom codes. It can choose from codes 960 to 999 for debits. See pages 5 and 45 in the manual.
Q: What is the relationship between BAI2 code 408 and the bank account balance? 408 is a float adjustment and should not change the account balance. However, it is a transaction detail item. According to the manual, transaction detail items represent individual debits and credits. Shouldn’t 408 be an “account status” item?
A. No. This transaction is a debit to the account. It is the result of a float adjustment.
Q: We would like to use a code to report a customer’s overnight investment balance. The code/dollar amount would be included on the operating account but would reflect the ledger balance in the investment account. The amount is added to the available balance of the operating account. Originally, we wanted to use the status code 057 (Total Investment Position). The more we talked, the more it seemed we needed to use a summary code. Suggestions?
A: 057 is the code to use. A summary code is for a total of transactions, not to report a balance.
Q: On code 475 (Check paid), we’ve always looked for the check number in column 6. In the sample files we’re testing with, it looks as if the reference number is in column 5. Is that a difference between BAI formats or between the BAI format and another?
A: No, that’s all within the BAI2 standard. Record 16 (Transaction Detail) permits including two optional reference numbers (p. 7). Obviously, for accurate communication, bank and customer need to agree on how the fields will be used.