AAPs Lead the Way: Celebrating National AAP Recognition Day
Published on February 5, 2025
AUTHOR
Eric Wester, AAP, APRP, NCP
Associate Director of Education Services
The Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) designation distinguishes individuals as experts in ACH payment processing, recognized by auditors, regulators, and the payments community for their mastery of the Nacha Operating Rules.
“AAPs bring credibility and extensive knowledge to their organizations, helping them to navigate the ACH and the payments landscape, which is dynamic,” said Stephanie Prebish, AAP, APRP, CTP, Senior Managing Director, Association Services at Nacha.
National AAP Recognition Day, celebrated on the second Tuesday in February, is an opportunity to honor these professionals and acknowledge the dedication, effort, and expertise required to earn and maintain their accreditation. This year, on February 11th, take a moment to thank an AAP on staff at your organization for their hard work and commitment to understanding and complying with the Nacha Operating Rules!
Showcase Your AAP on National AAP Recognition Day
All Accredited ACH Professionals are invited to share their AAP pride this year by sharing the following graphic on their LinkedIn and/or other social media.
UMACHA Congratulates 19 New Member AAPs
Our team at UMACHA is thrilled to congratulate the following 19 members who successfully obtained their Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) accreditation in the most recent testing window:
| Name | Organization |
| Angela Hensley | Montana Credit Union |
| Catherine Souter | First Dakota National Bank |
| Charlene Chang | State Bank Financial |
| Cody Nygaard | Clearwater Credit Union |
| Dora Baker | Farmers and Merchants State Bank |
| Emily Pindral | Superior National Bank |
| Gwyn Goss | Farmers State Bank |
| Jaimie Smith | Freedom Bank |
| Joanna Lauer | WNB Financial |
| Joshua Bantam | Billings Federal Credit Union |
| Josiah Churchill | Starion Bank |
| Katherine Hartung | Shell Lake State Bank |
| Lauren Wasko | WNB Financial |
| Mai Moua | Key Community Bank |
| Matt Johnson | Pathward, N.A. |
| Rachel Flood-Grubb | Alliance Banks |
| Sharon Voss | Pathward, N.A. |
| Steven Stibal | Wings Financial Credit Union |
| Tina Barnett | First Savings Bank |
These individuals have demonstrated mastery of the Nacha Operating Rules as exhibited through their efforts studying for and passing the rigorous AAP exam. We also extend our gratitude to their respective financial institutions for valuing this designation and providing the resources to support their AAP journey.
Ready to Become Accredited?
In our December 2024 blog, we stated there is no better time to challenge yourself and invest in your professional growth. The benefits go beyond recognition. Becoming accredited strengthens your professional credibility, showing that you have the expertise and dedication required to navigate the complexities of the payments landscape. It positions you as a trusted resource, opens doors to new opportunities, and paves the way for career advancement.
As your key partner in helping you understand electronic payments, UMACHA is here every step of the way with resources to guide you through preparing for the AAP exam.
We offer a comprehensive AAP exam preparation series that includes:
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AAP Primer Webinar Series (5-Part Series)
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AAP Summer Webinar Series (10-Part Series)
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Open Forum Webinar Series (6-Part Series)
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AAP Workshop (2-Days, In-Person or Virtual)
If you are ready to learn more about becoming an AAP, watch our brief So, You Think You Want to Be an AAP? (off-site) webinar and review our Accreditation Programs webpage to learn more and get registered. The exam preparation series begins May 13, 2025, and registration is open now.
If you have questions about any of UMACHA’s accreditation training programs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone at (763) 549-7000 or email info@umacha.org.
Stay connected with Eric Wester and UMACHA on LinkedIn!