Notifications and States

When you issue or deposit a check with Column, a check transfer will go through multiple state transitions. We notify you during each transition to keep you updated on clearing and settlement.

Issuing Checks with Column

To issue a check with Column, you must fund the account from which you are issuing a check. Column will lock funds in the account upon issuance. When you create a check via our Create Check API it flows from initiated to issued. Checks will remain in an issued state until a payee receives and cashes a check. Column receives cashed check details from the Fed and will attempt to debit the payer's account.

In the event that there are insufficient funds in the payer's account, Column will return the check to the payee's bank, or bank of first deposit (BOFD). In most cases, the BOFD will attempt to re-clear the check. If the payer's account was funded, Column will process the check and debit the payer's account. If there are insufficient funds in the payer's account or a stop payment instruction is in place, Column will return the check. At this point, the BOFD cannot re-clear the check.

Stop Payment Instruction

Customers may create a stop payment instruction on an issued check. This effectively "cancels" a check before a payee deposits the check. For example, stop payments may be used if the customer provided the wrong amount or recipient. Column may hold funds locked upon check issuance for up to 10 days after a stop payment instruction is received. During this period, the check transfer object will be in a pending_stop state. After the hold period is over, the check will move to a stopped state.

States and Events

Below are the states and events an issued check may go through.

Mailing Checks with Column

If you choose to print and mail a check with Column, we provide the delivery status of the check in the DeliveryStatus field in the check transfer object. Column provides webhooks every time the DeliveryStatus on the check transfer object is updated.

States and Events

Depositing Checks with Column

Below are the states and events a check deposited at Column may go through.

States and Events