SFTP/FTPS

    sequenceDiagram

    participant M as Merchant/LMS
    participant S as SFTP/FTPS
    participant F as Flex API / CORE
    participant O as Flex OPS Team
    participant B as Bank
    
    M->>S: Send Flex Supported File
    Note over S: Files sit in batch
    O-->>F: Send request for import
    F-->>S: Gather imported files
    S->>O: Files gathered for queue
    Note over O: Files queued for transfer
    F-->>M: Imported files can be requested at anytime
    Note over M: Find out what imported.
    O->>B: Files sent to bank

---

ACH File Upload Instructions via SFTP/FTPS

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for merchants to securely upload payment-related files using SFTP or FTPS protocols. Both methods use encryption to ensure sensitive data is protected during transmission.

Supported Protocols

• SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol): A secure file transfer protocol that uses SSH to encrypt the connection.
• FTPS (FTP Secure): An extension of the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) that adds support for the Transport Layer Security (TLS) and the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) cryptographic protocols.

Note

Plain FTP is not supported due to lack of encryption.

Prerequisites

Before uploading files, make sure you have:

• An SFTP/FTPS client installed (e.g., FileZilla, WinSCP, or command-line tools).
• A valid username or IP address
• The hostname or IP address of the SFTP/FTPS server
• The required port:
  • SFTP: Port 22
  • FTPS: Port 21 (explicit)
  • FTPS: Port 990 (implicit)

File Structure

• Directory/

  • Directoryach/

    • Directoryin/

      • Directoryarchive/

        • …
    • Directoryinprenote/

      • …
    • Directoryinsameday/

      • …
    • Directorylatereturns/

      • …
    • Directorynocs/

      • …
    • Directoryresults/

      • …
    • Directoryreturns/

      • …
    • Directorysettlement/

      • …
  • Directoryrcc/

    • …

• All files must be placed in the ach/ directory for ACH transactions.

File Placement

Remember to place the files into ach/{applicableDirectory}/.

Uploading Files via SFTP

1. Open your SFTP client.
2. Enter the following:
   • Host: sftp.provider.com
   • Port: 22
   • Username: your_username
   • Password: your_password
3. Connect to the server.
4. Navigate to the ach/ directory.
5. Drag and drop your files into the directory or use the upload function of your client.
6. Confirm file transfer completion.

Uploading Files via FTPS

1. Open your FTPS client.
2. Enter the following:
   • Host: ftps.provider.com
   • Port: 21 (explicit) or 990 (implicit)
   • Username: your_username
   • Password: your_password
3. Connect to the server.
4. Navigate to the ach/ directory.
5. Drag and drop your files into the directory or use the upload function of your client.
6. Confirm file transfer completion.

Post-Upload Verification

• After a successful upload, files are automatically picked up for processing.
• Imported and rejected files can be viewed in a created .csv file in the ach/results/ directory after processing.

Troubleshooting

• Can’t connect —> Verify host, port, and credentials. Check firewall settings.

• File rejected —> Ensure it meets naming conventions and format requirements.

• Transfer fails midway —> Use a stable network and resume file support if available.