ECCHO (Electronic Check Clearing House Organization) is a not-for-profit, mutual benefit, national clearinghouse that is 100 percent owned by its member institutions. Any depository financial institution, regardless of size, is eligible for membership in ECCHO. ECCHO was created in 1990 by banks as a cooperative venture to encourage the use of electronics to enhance the check collection system. In the early years the focus was on electronic check presentment (ECP). Since the passage of Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (Check 21), ECCHO’s primary focus has been the use of image exchange to improve the efficiency of check payments.
ECCHO’s primary activities can be divided among three functions:
- rules development and maintenance
- industry education
- industry advocacy