Celebrating National Nacha Accreditation Day
Published on February 4, 2025
AUTHOR
Eric Wester, AAP, AFPP, APRP, NCP
Director of Member Services
Each year, National Nacha Accreditation Day provides an opportunity to celebrate professional excellence across the payments industry by recognizing all Nacha accreditation holders in a single, unified day of celebration. On Tuesday, February 10, UMACHA proudly joins the payments community in recognizing individuals who have earned and maintained one or more of Nacha’s prestigious payments accreditations.
These accreditations represent a commitment to knowledge, integrity, and leadership in an ever‑evolving payments landscape. The professionals who hold them help strengthen the safety, efficiency, and innovation of the U.S. payments system.
“Obtaining a payments accreditation means more than simply adding letters after your name on your email signature and business cards. It is a true testament to the time, energy, and effort invested in studying and demonstrating your expertise. These individuals bring real value to their organizations.”
— Kimberly Ellis, Senior Director of Member Services
Accredited ACH Professional (AAP): Demonstrating ACH Expertise and Ensuring Compliance
The AAP accreditation is widely recognized as the gold standard for ACH payments expertise. It validates a professional’s deep understanding of the ACH Network, including the Nacha Operating Rules, compliance requirements, risk management practices, and day‑to‑day ACH operations.
Employing an AAP provides organizations with confidence that ACH activity is being managed by a knowledgeable professional who understands regulatory expectations and industry best practices. AAP‑accredited staff help reduce operational and compliance risk, improve efficiencies, and support informed decision‑making across payments teams.
Accredited Faster Payments Professional (AFPP): Supporting Innovation in Faster Payments
The AFPP accreditation recognizes expertise in real‑time and faster payments systems such as RTP and FedNow. It demonstrates a professional’s understanding of faster payments concepts, use cases, implementation considerations, and associated risks.
As faster payments adoption continues to expand, organizations benefit from employing AFPP‑credentialed professionals who can guide strategy, support responsible innovation, and enhance client experiences. Their knowledge helps organizations remain competitive while managing fraud, liquidity, and operational risk in an increasingly faster-moving environment.
Accredited Payments Risk Professional (APRP): Strengthening Payments Risk Management
The APRP accreditation demonstrates a high level of expertise in identifying, managing, and mitigating payments‑related risk across multiple payment types, including ACH, checks, wire transfers, card payments and faster payments. This accreditation reflects a comprehensive understanding of risk management principles, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
Organizations that employ APRPs benefit from valuable expertise that supports risk management practices, strengthens compliance programs, and enhances overall organizational resilience. APRPs play a critical role in protecting both clients and institutions in a complex and evolving payments landscape.
Celebrating UMACHA Members Who Earned Their AAP in 2025
UMACHA is proud to recognize and celebrate our members who successfully earned their AAP designation during the 2025 exam window.
|
Member Name |
Organization Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Afton Klode | Northern Hills Federal Credit Union |
| Alex Parrish | Blaze Credit Union |
| Cathy Anderson | First Farmers & Merchants Bank |
| Cynthia Koch | Three Rivers Bank of Montana |
| Emily Highum | Rushford State Bank |
| Erika Henry | Wells Fargo |
| Jaleesa Burdick | G.E.C.U. |
| Jessica Watrous | Altana Federal Credit Union |
| Karen Verhalen | State Bank Financial |
| Kristin Behrendt | WESTconsin Credit Union |
| Kristi Oldenburg | Bremer Bank |
| Laena Bosk | Great Lakes First Federal Credit Union |
| Maria Maselter | United Bankers’ Bank |
| Shawna Cruikshank | Randall State Bank |
| Shelby Tennis | First Community Credit Union |
| Theresa Jacobson | North Shore Bank |
Your achievement reflects exceptional effort and expertise, and we applaud your commitment to strengthening the ACH Network.
Preparing for Accreditation with UMACHA
UMACHA is committed to being the answer key in your back pocket, supporting payments professionals at every stage of their accreditation journey by bringing clarity to complex rules and regulations. UMACHA offers comprehensive exam preparation training programs for:
These programs are designed to help candidates build confidence, reinforce key concepts, and effectively prepare for the rigor of each accreditation exam through expert instruction, structured learning experiences, and valuable study resources.
Learn more about UMACHA’s accreditation exam training programs here.
On February 10, join UMACHA in celebrating the knowledge, dedication, and professionalism of today’s accredited payments professionals, as well as those preparing to become tomorrow’s payments experts.
Stay connected with Eric Wester and UMACHA on LinkedIn!