Free ACH & NACHA to CPA 005 File Converter
Bridge the gap between US ACH and Canadian banking. Convert US NACHA files (.ach) and cross-border payroll spreadsheets into compliant Payments Canada Standard 005 (1464-byte) AFT direct deposit files for RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, and Scotiabank.
Cross-Border Banking & Security Notice
This utility is provided by Currency Mart Inc. to assist businesses managing cross-border US-Canada disbursements. All NACHA file parsing, currency conversion, and CPA Standard 005 generation runs 100% locally in your web browser — zero bank account details or employee records are ever sent to our servers. Always test generated files in your Canadian bank's sandbox/test environment prior to live transmission.
1 Import US NACHA File (.ach) or ACH Spreadsheet
Drag & Drop your NACHA file (.ach, .txt) or Excel/CSV here
Accepts standard 94-character US NACHA files or spreadsheets with recipient details
2 Canadian Bank & CPA 005 Header Settings
Bank 003
Bank 004
Bank 001
Bank 002
Bank 010
Bank 006
3 Converted Canadian Recipient Records (6 Segments / Line)
| # | Payee Name (max 30) | Bank # (3) | Transit # (5) | Account # (12) | Amount ($) | Cross-Ref / ID (19) |
|---|
Cross-Border File Inspector (NACHA 94-Byte & CPA 005 1464-Byte)
Paste your file content below. Our inspector automatically detects whether it is a **US NACHA (94-character)** file or a **Canadian CPA 005 (1,464-character)** file and validates record types, hash balances, and segment alignment.
Record Inspection Breakdown
| Line | Record Type | Status | Diagnostics & Field Analysis |
|---|
Navigating US ACH vs. Canadian CPA 005 Formats
US companies paying Canadian contractors, remote employees, or suppliers frequently encounter payment rejections when sending US NACHA format files to Canadian banks. While both systems facilitate automated direct clearing, their file architectures, character widths, and routing schemas are fundamentally different:
| Feature | US ACH (NACHA Standard) | Canadian AFT (Payments Canada Standard 005) |
|---|---|---|
| Record Length | Fixed 94 characters per line | Fixed 1,464 characters per line |
| Packing Structure | 1 transaction per line (Record Type 6 Entry Detail) | Up to 6 transactions (segments) packed into each line |
| Bank Routing Format | 9-digit ABA routing transit number (8 digits + 1 check digit) | 9-digit DPRN: 0 + 3-digit Institution + 5-digit Transit |
| Date Format | Standard calendar YYMMDD |
Julian Date 0YYDDD (e.g. 026270) |
| Record Identifiers | Numbers: 1 (Header), 5 (Batch), 6 (Detail), 8, 9 |
Letters: A (Header), C (Credits), D (Debits), Z (Trailer) |
How Canadian Bank Routing Translates
Unlike the US Federal Reserve's 9-digit ABA system, Canadian financial institutions use an 8-digit routing identifier consisting of a 5-digit Branch Transit Number and a 3-digit Financial Institution Number.
For example, an employee with a TD Canada Trust account at Branch 12345 has:
- Bank Institution Code:
004(TD Canada Trust) - Branch Transit Number:
12345 - Payments Canada Standard 005 Routing:
000412345(Constant0+ Bank004+ Transit12345)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
22 (checking credit) and 32 (savings credit) represent deposits. Our converter automatically maps these to CPA Record Type C (Credit) with commercial transaction code 450 or payroll code 200. NACHA debit codes 27 and 37 map to CPA Record Type D (Pre-Authorized Debit).