How to create a First Foundation Bank positive pay file

First Foundation Bank protects business checking accounts with positive pay: you upload a check issue file listing every check you write, and the bank flags anything that doesn't match. QuickBooks and most accounting systems can't produce this file. Below is the format First Foundation Bank expects and how to generate it for free.

Open the generator with the First Foundation Bank format preselected

The First Foundation Bank file format

CSV (Excel and fixed-width also accepted); First Foundation recommends leaving the header row out
Example order: record type, account number, check number, issue date, amount
Record type: I = issued, V = voided
Dates as MM/DD/YYYY; amounts as 999999.99 with no leading zeros
Payee optional unless you use Payee Match, where the first 120 characters must match the printed check

First Foundation's spec stresses consistency over a rigid layout. Pick one layout and keep it identical for every upload.

This layout follows the bank's published specification. Source: go.ff-inc.com.

Step by step

Export your check register. From QuickBooks Online: Settings → Chart of accounts → your bank account → View register → filter to checks → Export to Excel. (Full QuickBooks walkthrough, including Desktop.)
Convert it. Drop the export into the generator, confirm the detected columns, and enter your account number once. The generator applies the First Foundation Bank layout above. Everything runs in your browser; your check data is never uploaded.
Check the preview. The built-in validator flags missing dates, unreadable amounts, duplicate check numbers, and fields that exceed First Foundation Bank's length limits before the bank ever sees the file.
Upload to First Foundation Bank. Log in to your business/treasury portal and upload under the positive pay or check protection menu. Verify the item count and total match the preview.

Voided checks

Mark voids in your register (a status column containing “void” works) and the generator emits First Foundation Bank's void code automatically.

Always test your first file. Bank specs change and some are negotiated per customer. Send your first generated file through the bank's test facility or your treasury contact. If First Foundation Bank has given you a different spec sheet, recreate it exactly with the custom format builder. It takes about five minutes.

Related reading: the positive pay file format guide explains fixed-width versus delimited layouts and void codes, the glossary defines the terms, and the QuickBooks guide covers exporting your check register.

Create your First Foundation Bank positive pay file