XBert Type: Standard
Accounting Software: Xero
Country Restriction: Australia only
Risk Type: Cash Flow Risk
Business Function: Banking
Overview
This XBert checks your batch payments for characters in the payment reference that some Australian banks reject when you upload the batch (ABA) file. Catching these early helps you avoid a rejected file and delayed supplier payments.
What it does
It looks at authorised batch payments in Xero and examines the reference (or details) on each batch. It checks that reference for characters that banks are known to refuse, so a problem can be fixed before the file leaves your accounting software.
How it works
XBert raises this alert when a batch payment meets all of the following:
It is a spend batch payment (a "pay batch") that has been authorised.
The batch reference (or details) contains an underscore (_) or a full stop (.) — the two characters that commonly cause bank file rejections.
The batch was dated within roughly the last six months.
It checks the batch's own reference — the same value shown to you — so a clean batch reference will not be flagged. Other characters, such as hyphens (-), spaces and numbers, are fine and do not trigger the alert. If several batches qualify, XBert highlights up to ten, starting with the highest value.
Example/Use Case
Margie prepares a batch payment to pay several suppliers and gives it the reference "WAGES_JUN26". XBert flags the batch because of the underscore. Before Margie exports the ABA file, she changes the reference to "WAGES JUN26", regenerates the file and uploads it to the bank. The file is accepted first time and the suppliers are paid on schedule. Had the underscore stayed, the bank would have rejected the file, the payments would have stalled, and Margie may have faced overdue notices and late fees from her suppliers.
Accounting software
Xero only.
Which countries it supports
Australia only.
Processes
This alert sits under the Banking business area. To resolve it:
Open the flagged batch payment in Xero and check its reference (or details).
Remove or replace any underscore (_) or full stop (.) — for example, swap it for a space or a hyphen.
Regenerate the ABA (batch) file from Xero and upload it to your bank.
If your bank accepts these characters, you may leave the reference as it is — but confirm your bank's requirements first.
Once the reference is corrected, mark the XBert as resolved.