Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) Practice Exam

Which of the following is true about the Auxiliary On-Us Field?

1. It is mandatory on all checks

2. It is a fixed format in the MICR line

3. It is optional and variable in format

4. It is used only for electronic payments

The correct answer is: It is optional and variable in format

The Auxiliary On-Us Field is indeed optional and can vary in format, which makes the answer correct. This field is part of the MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) line on checks and serves to provide additional information, such as a reference number or a specific identifier that isn’t covered by the standard check layout. Since it is designed to be flexible, organizations can choose to include different types of information based on their internal needs. Its optional nature means that not all checks will contain this field, and when they do, the information presented can differ based on the needs of the financial institution or the specific transaction. This flexibility allows financial institutions to adapt the information presented to best suit their operational requirements. The other options present characteristics that do not align with the Auxiliary On-Us Field. Being mandatory on all checks contradicts its optional status; a fixed format would limit the usefulness of the field, which is supposed to allow for variability; and its association with electronic payments is inaccurate since the field specifically pertains to checks rather than electronic transactions.