AC16 - Account in closing process

What this code means

AC16 means the account is in the process of being closed. It has not been shut yet, but the bank will no longer accept transactions on it, so the payment cannot be delivered.

Typical causes

• The beneficiary has given notice to close the account and is migrating to a new bank.
• The bank initiated the closure after prolonged inactivity or a policy decision.
• A company is winding down and its accounts are being closed one by one.

What to do

Resubmitting will fail — the closure is under way and will not reverse. Obtain the beneficiary's new account number and pay to that instead. This rejection is final.

What it looks like in a pain.002

The reason code is carried in the StsRsnInf/Rsn/Cd element of the status report.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Document xmlns="urn:iso:std:iso:20022:tech:xsd:pain.002.001.03">
  <CstmrPmtStsRpt>
    <GrpHdr>
      <MsgId>STATUS-2026-000123</MsgId>
      <CreDtTm>2026-01-15T09:30:00</CreDtTm>
    </GrpHdr>
    <OrgnlGrpInfAndSts>
      <OrgnlMsgId>MSG-2026-000045</OrgnlMsgId>
      <OrgnlMsgNmId>pain.001.001.09</OrgnlMsgNmId>
    </OrgnlGrpInfAndSts>
    <OrgnlPmtInfAndSts>
      <OrgnlPmtInfId>PMTINF-2026-01</OrgnlPmtInfId>
      <TxInfAndSts>
        <OrgnlEndToEndId>E2E-REF-0001</OrgnlEndToEndId>
        <TxSts>RJCT</TxSts>
        <StsRsnInf>
          <Rsn>
            <Cd>AC16</Cd>
          </Rsn>
        </StsRsnInf>
      </TxInfAndSts>
    </OrgnlPmtInfAndSts>
  </CstmrPmtStsRpt>
</Document>

Tools for this code

Decode a real status report, or check a payment file before you send it — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.

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