--- title: How to create a positive pay file? description: This article discusses how to prevent check fraud by creating a Positive Pay file. --- [Skip to content](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/how-to-create-a-positive-pay-file#main-content) [![TMO-LO~1](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TMO-LO~1.png?width=200&height=65&name=TMO-LO~1.png)](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/) - [Platform](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/products/) Show submenu for Platform - [Loan Servicing](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/products/loan-servicing-software/) - [Loan Origination](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/products/loan-origination-software/) - [Fund Management](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/products/fund-management-software/) - [Knowledge Hub](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge-hub/) Show submenu for Knowledge Hub - [Blog](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/blog/) - [Resources](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/resources/) - [Webinars](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/resources/?_resource_types=on-demand-webinars) - [Seminars](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/seminars/) - [FAQs](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/frequently-asked-questions/) - [Release Notes](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/release-notes) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Platform](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/products/) Show submenu for Platform - [Loan Servicing](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/products/loan-servicing-software/) - [Loan Origination](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/products/loan-origination-software/) - [Fund Management](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/products/fund-management-software/) - [Knowledge Hub](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge-hub/) Show submenu for Knowledge Hub - [Blog](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/blog/) - [Resources](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/resources/) - [Webinars](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/resources/?_resource_types=on-demand-webinars) - [Seminars](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/seminars/) - [FAQs](https://www.themortgageoffice.com/frequently-asked-questions/) - [Release Notes](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/release-notes) - [Contact Support](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) [Contact Support](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Trust Accounting](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/trust-accounting?hsLang=en) 3. [Register](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/trust-accounting?hsLang=en#register) October 9, 2026 # How to create a positive pay file? ## This article discusses how to prevent check fraud by creating a Positive Pay file. Positive Pay for The Mortgage Office® is a powerful, yet very simple process in **check fraud prevention**. While each bank may **utilize** Positive Pay in slightly different ways, the general idea is universal: Upon completion of a check run, a company **prepares** a "checks issued" data file (including check number, amount and date, as well as other bank and account information) and **transmits** this data to their **bank**. Voided, Rejected, Cancelled and Manual checks can also be included in the file. When checks are presented for **payment** against an account **protected** by Positive Pay, the check information is **compared** to the "checks issued" file. Checks presented for payment that **fail** to match with checks issued by the company are **rejected**. The bank then presents a list of "**suspect checks**" to the company for "pay/no pay" decisions. These “suspect checks” need to be resolved before the bank **authorizes** payment. The company may reject any checks it believes to be fraudulent. ### To create a Positive Pay file: - Click the ![users](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Icons/users.png?width=15&height=15&name=users.png) **Trust Accounts** drop-down in the left panel of The Mortgage Office®. - From the list of Trust Accounts that are listed, **select** the **trust account** drop-down to bank the deposit from. - From that drop-down, click **All.**  - You can also click any one of the client **names** under All to make the deposit **directly** from a client's ledger. - From the grid, click ![action](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TMO%20APP%20Icons/action.png?width=16&height=16&name=action.png) from the options available on top panel to display a list of available actions and select ![wallet](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Icons/wallet.png?width=15&height=15&name=wallet.png) **Create Positive Pay File.** - In the **Create Positive Pay File assistant,** enter the following information: | **Field:** | **Description:** | | --- | --- | | **Select Trust Account** | Select a **Trust Account** from the drop-down menu. | | **Select Date Range** | Enter the **starting** and **ending** dates to determine which transactions are included in the file. TIP: You won't be able to proceed to the next step until valid dates are entered. | | **Select File Format** | Select a file **format** from the drop-down list that matches your bank's **requirements**. TIPS: - Unlike ACH transactions, there is **not** astandard Positive Pay file format. Each bank has its own file format, so it is important that you select a format supported by your bank. - The Mortgage Office® may not have an "out of the box" format that matches your bank’s requirements. If your bank’s format is not already included in the drop-down list, please contact ABS support at 800-833-0115 or support@absnetwork.com, as most formats are easily **added**. - You **won't** be able to **proceed** to the next step until a file format has been selected. | | **![Blue Check Box\_r](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blue%20Check%20Box_r.png?width=16&height=15&name=Blue%20Check%20Box_r.png) Exclude checks with empty payee name** | Check this box to **Exclude** checks that do not contain a payee name. | - Click ![NEXT in blue box](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TMO%20APP%20Icons/NEXT%20in%20blue%20box.png?width=75&height=29&name=NEXT%20in%20blue%20box.png)**Next.** - The grid is populated with transactions matching the **criteria** selected in the previous step. - Transactions must also meet the **following** criteria to be included on the list: - - Printed or handwritten checks - Non ACH - Unreconciled - Check amount must not be negative or zero - By default, **all** transactions are selected, but you may include or exclude **individual** transactions from the Positive Pay file by checking or unchecking the box **![blank check box](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TMO%20APP%20Icons/blank%20check%20box.png?width=16&height=17&name=blank%20check%20box.png)** on the left. TIPS: - Use the **Select All** and **Clear All** hyperlinks near the bottom of the window to mass check or uncheck all transactions on the list. - Click **Export to Excel** to export all transactions on the list to Microsoft Excel. NOTE: You won't be able to proceed to the next step unless one or more transactions are selected. - Click ![NEXT in blue box](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TMO%20APP%20Icons/NEXT%20in%20blue%20box.png?width=75&height=29&name=NEXT%20in%20blue%20box.png)**Next.** - Enter information into the following fields, if necessary: | **Field:** | **Description:** | | --- | --- | | **Bank Number** | Enter a 4-digit **bank number**. This value is not required by all banks. | | **![Blue Check Box\_r](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blue%20Check%20Box_r.png?width=16&height=15&name=Blue%20Check%20Box_r.png) Create Attachments** | Select this option to **attach** a copy of this Positive Pay file to the Trust Account **record**. To learn more see [Attachments](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/fundamentals-of-attachments?hsLang=en). | | **Tab** | Use the drop-down to select the tabs you wish to save the report under in the Attachments. | - Click ![Preview Report with wording and button border](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Preview%20Report%20with%20wording%20and%20button%20border.png?width=148&height=28&name=Preview%20Report%20with%20wording%20and%20button%20border.png) **Preview Report** to open a print preview window. - Click [here](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/knowledge/how-to-use-the-print-preview-window?hsLang=en) to learn more about print preview windows. - Click ![Download with wording and button border](https://help.themortgageoffice.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Download%20with%20wording%20and%20button%20border.png?width=124&height=27&name=Download%20with%20wording%20and%20button%20border.png) **Download** to generate and automatically download the report to your computer's Downloads folder. - 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