ACH Descriptor Modes

Last updated: October 9, 2026

Every ACH Transfer includes two fields that the sender and receiver see on their bank statements. Astra builds these fields using one of two modes: Standard or Legacy. Standard is the default for new programs.

If your program uses Legacy mode and you want to use Standard mode, contact Astra Support.

Field

Maximum length

Visible to

Description

10 characters

Sender and receiver, on their bank statements

Addenda

80 characters

Sender and receiver, as the full narrative

How each mode builds the fields

An ACH Transfer has a debit leg, which pulls the funds, and a credit leg, which pushes them. The values are defined as follows:

  • Client name is your program name, as defined in the Astra Dashboard.

  • Routine name is the name of the Routine.

  • client_correlation_id is an optional value you set on the Routine.

Field

Standard

Legacy

Addenda, debit leg

{client name} - {client_correlation_id}, or {client name} if there's no correlation ID

{client name} - {Routine name}

Addenda, credit leg

Same as the debit leg

{client name} - {client_correlation_id}, or {client name} - {Routine name} if there's no correlation ID

Description

First 10 characters of client_correlation_id, or the first 10 characters of the client name if there's no correlation ID

First 10 characters of the addenda

In Standard mode, the addenda is identical on the debit and credit legs, and so is the description. In Legacy mode, the addenda can change between legs. The description is the first 10 characters of each leg's addenda, so it can change too.

Example

This example uses the client name Wok Box, the Routine name Weekly Payout, and the client_correlation_id WB-SP-001.

Field

Standard

Legacy

Addenda, debit leg

Wok Box - WB-SP-001

Wok Box - Weekly Payout

Addenda, credit leg

Wok Box - WB-SP-001

Wok Box - WB-SP-001

Description

WB-SP-001

Wok Box -

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