R09 | Uncollected funds
This code indicates there were funds in the account, but they were not collected/available for the ACH debit at the time of presentment.
What This Code Means
R09 is returned when the RDFI determines that although the account may show a balance, the funds are not collected or available to cover the debit. This commonly relates to deposit availability rules, holds, or items that have not cleared. The key distinction from R01 is that R09 emphasizes uncollected or unavailable funds rather than simply “insufficient funds.” This return is still a funding outcome at the time of presentment, not a long-term account status statement. It does not automatically indicate the account is closed or invalid.
Where Users Usually See This Code
- ACH debit failure reports for bill pay or subscriptions
- Processor dashboards showing returned debit entries
- Bank settlement files with detailed return reason codes
Why This Code Appears
- Deposits credited but not yet collected/available
- Holds or availability windows reduced available funds
- Pending transactions reduced usable balance at posting time
- Internal bank rules classified the deficiency as uncollected rather than insufficient
What Typically Happens Next
- The debit is returned through ACH with R09
- The originator records the debit as returned due to funds availability classification
- A subsequent debit may succeed if presented when funds are collected/available
What This Code Is Not
- It is not an invalid account number issue (see R04)
- It is not a closed account status (see R02)
- It is not an authorization dispute (see R05/R10)
Troubleshooting Checklist
- □ Review the posting timeline and whether deposits were subject to availability holds
- □ Confirm whether multiple debits posted around the same time affected available funds
- □ Record the return pattern to identify timing-related issues
- □ Follow standard reconciliation processes for returned entries
Notes And Edge Cases
Banks differ in how they classify funding-related returns, so similar scenarios may be returned as R01 at one institution and R09 at another. Posting order and cutoff times can influence whether funds are considered collected. Some transactions may appear to “fail despite a balance” when holds and pending items reduce availability. Repeated R09 patterns can indicate consistent timing mismatches rather than a persistent lack of funds.