What does the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network primarily enable?

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) network primarily enables electronic financial transaction processing. This system facilitates the movement of money between bank accounts through electronic means, allowing for efficient and reliable processing of payments and transactions. ACH provides a way for individuals and businesses to send and receive payments electronically, including payroll deposits, bill payments, and other types of money transfers.

It enhances the speed and security of transactions as it eliminates the need for paper checks, which require physical handling and can be prone to delays and issues related to loss or theft. By streamlining payment processes, the ACH network supports not only consumer banking needs but also the functionality of businesses and government entities.

In contrast, the other choices do not align with the core function of the ACH network. The physical delivery of checks refers to traditional banking methods rather than electronic processing. Manual record keeping pertains to outdated practices that are inefficient in today’s banking landscape. Verification of fraudulent checks, while important, isn’t the primary function of the ACH network, which focuses more on facilitating legitimate electronic transactions rather than fraud detection.