Understanding the ABA File Format

A comprehensive guide to the Australian Bankers Association (ABA) file format for bulk payment processing.

What is the ABA File Format?

The ABA (Australian Bankers Association) file format, also known as the Cemtext format, is the standard file format used by Australian banks for processing bulk payments. It allows businesses to upload multiple payment transactions at once through their bank's business banking portal, eliminating the need for manual entry of individual payments.

When Do You Need an ABA File?

ABA files are essential for:

• Payroll Processing: Pay multiple employees in a single batch
• Supplier Payments: Process multiple vendor invoices simultaneously
• Bulk Refunds: Issue refunds to multiple customers at once
• Dividend Payments: Distribute payments to shareholders
• Commission Payments: Pay commissions to multiple agents or partners

ABA File Structure

An ABA file consists of three types of records:

Type 0 - Descriptive Record (Header)

The header record contains information about the file and the originating institution:

• Record Type (always "0")
• BSB of the account to be debited
• Account number to be debited
• Institution name
• File creation date
• Batch description

Type 1 - Detail Record (Transaction)

Each detail record represents a single payment transaction:

• Record Type (always "1")
• BSB number of the recipient's account
• Account number of the recipient
• Transaction code (usually "53" for credit)
• Payment amount (in cents)
• Account name of the recipient
• Payment reference/description
• Trace BSB and account (usually same as sender)

Type 7 - File Total Record (Footer)

The footer record contains summary information:

• Record Type (always "7")
• Total file value (sum of all debits)
• Total file value (sum of all credits)
• Total number of records (excluding header and footer)

Record Format Specifications

Required CSV Fields

To convert your CSV to ABA format, your file should contain these fields:

Common Transaction Codes

• 13: Debit - Drawn on Account (Direct Debit)
• 50: Credit - General Purpose
• 51: Credit - Australian Government Security Interest
• 52: Credit - Family Allowance
• 53: Credit - Pay (Salary/Wages) - Most common for payroll
• 54: Credit - Pension
• 55: Credit - Allotment
• 56: Credit - Dividend
• 57: Credit - Debenture Interest

Validation Rules

Before submitting an ABA file to your bank, ensure:

• BSB Format: Exactly 6 digits, must be valid Australian BSB
• Account Numbers: 1-9 digits, no special characters
• Account Names: Alphanumeric only, no special characters except spaces and hyphens
• Amounts: Positive numbers, maximum 2 decimal places
• References: Alphanumeric, maximum 18 characters
• File Totals: Must match sum of all transactions
• Record Count: Must match actual number of detail records

Bank Compatibility

ABA files are accepted by all major Australian banks:

• Commonwealth Bank (CBA)
• Westpac Banking Corporation
• National Australia Bank (NAB)
• Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ)
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank
• Bank of Queensland
• Suncorp Bank
• Bankwest
• St. George Bank
• Bank of Melbourne
• BankSA
• Macquarie Bank
• And many more regional and credit unions

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

Invalid BSB Number

Error: BSB must be exactly 6 digits
Solution: Remove hyphens and ensure BSB is 6 digits (e.g., 123-456 → 123456)

Invalid Account Number

Error: Account number contains non-numeric characters
Solution: Remove spaces, hyphens, or letters from account numbers

Invalid Account Name

Error: Account name contains special characters
Solution: Remove characters like @, #, $, %, &, *, etc. Use only letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens

Amount Format Error

Error: Amount has more than 2 decimal places
Solution: Round amounts to 2 decimal places (e.g., 123.456 → 123.46)

File Total Mismatch

Error: Sum of transactions doesn't match footer total
Solution: Regenerate the file - this usually indicates a corrupted file

Example CSV Structure

BSB,Account Number,Account Name,Amount,Reference
123-456,12345678,John Smith,1234.56,Salary March 2024
234-567,87654321,Jane Doe,2345.67,Salary March 2024
345-678,11223344,ABC Company Pty Ltd,5000.00,Invoice INV-001
456-789,99887766,XYZ Services,750.50,Commission Q1 2024

Using Our ABA Converter

Our service automatically handles all the technical formatting requirements:

• Validates BSB numbers against Australian bank database
• Formats amounts correctly (converts dollars to cents)
• Pads all fields to exact required lengths
• Generates correct header and footer records
• Calculates file totals and record counts
• Ensures proper ASCII encoding and line endings
• Provides detailed error messages for any issues

Best Practices

• Always test first: Use your bank's test facility before live processing
• Verify recipient details: Double-check BSB and account numbers
• Keep backups: Save your original CSV and generated ABA files
• Check bank limits: Some banks limit transactions per file or total value
• Use clear references: Help recipients identify payments easily
• Review totals: Always verify the total amount before submitting
• Submit on time: Consider bank processing cutoff times

Further Resources

• Australian Payments Council (APCA) - Payment standards
• Reserve Bank of Australia - Payment systems information
• Contact your bank's business banking support for specific requirements