R72 - Untimely Dishonored Return
CONTESTED DISHONORED RETURN (RDFI -> ODFI). The ODFI's dishonored return was itself sent outside the permitted 5-banking-day window, so the RDFI is contesting it.
R72 - Untimely Dishonored Return
CONTESTED DISHONORED RETURN (RDFI -> ODFI). The ODFI's dishonored return was itself sent outside the permitted 5-banking-day window, so the RDFI is contesting it. This rejection is final: resubmitting the same payment will fail again — resolve the underlying situation first.
What this code means
CONTESTED DISHONORED RETURN (RDFI -> ODFI). The ODFI's dishonored return was itself sent outside the permitted 5-banking-day window, so the RDFI is contesting it.
Typical causes
- ODFI missed the 5-banking-day dishonor deadline
- Dishonor queued behind a backlog at the ODFI
- Dishonor raised long after the original return settled
What to do
Bank-to-bank contest code. Contested dishonored returns must be transmitted within 2 banking days of the settlement date of the dishonored return.
What it looks like in an ACH return
The return arrives as an Addenda Record (type 99), 94 characters wide. The return reason code sits in positions 4-6.
799R72091000010000001 09100001 091000019000001Tools for this code
Decode a real status report, or check a payment file before you send it — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.
Related codes
Source: Nacha ISO 20022 mapping guide + Federal Reserve ACH Return Reason Report + US Treasury Green Book · Last verified: 2026-07-13
Checked against: nacha.org · frbservices.org · frbservices.org