📝 Overview

This article covers how payroll transaction risk reviews work, what may trigger additional review or a payment hold, and what you can do to support a smooth process.

⚖️ Transaction Risk Reviews

What Is Evaluated During a Transaction Review?

Each payroll run is analyzed using a combination of automated controls and, when needed, manual review by an analyst. Factors that may be considered include:

Payroll amount changes
Payment structuring near thresholds
New workers or accounts
Geographic patterns
Funding timing
Institutional risk indicators
Consistency with prior activity
Historical transaction patterns
Bank and account data

Why Ongoing Review Matters

Payroll involves moving large sums of money under tight timelines. Once funds settle, recovery is often difficult. Ongoing review helps:

Prevent financial losses
Reduce return and reversal risk
Detect account compromise
Protect you and your workers

This process is a critical safeguard, not an obstacle.

🚀 Your First Payroll Run

Your first payroll is a significant checkpoint. It's the first time live data is available to evaluate, including:

Live payroll behavior
Worker banking data
Funding and debit patterns
Real transaction timing

This information isn't available during onboarding, so the first payroll helps establish a reliable baseline for your account going forward.

💸 Payment Processing & Holds

Payroll runs are not routinely paused for review. In most cases, the risk review happens alongside processing, with a focus on early detection.

That said, in select situations where a review surfaces serious indicators of fraud or credit risk, payments may be held to prevent potential loss. This is the exception, not the norm.

Requests for Information (RFIs)

Occasionally, a transaction review will require additional clarification. If that happens, you may receive a Request for Information (RFI) asking you to provide documentation. RFIs may be used to verify:

Identity information
Bank account ownership
Payroll entry anomalies
Unusual funding activity

💡Pro tip: ID verification is especially useful in confirming account ownership and flagging potential account takeover scenarios.

🗂️ Common Documents Requested During a Review

If documentation is needed during a transaction review, you may be asked to provide one or more of the following:

Recent bank statements: confirms funding sources and account ownership

Government-issued ID: supports identity verification and impersonation detection

Supporting payroll documentation: clarifies unusual entries or timing

🤝 What You Can Do

Responding promptly and keeping your account information current makes the biggest difference. A few things that help:

Prepare for closer review around your first payroll run
Maintain consistent payroll practices
Notify your support contact early if you're changing bank accounts
Respond quickly if you receive an RFI or information request
Reach out with questions before making significant changes to your payroll

❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find answers to common questions or additional details that may not be covered in the main instructions.

Click the arrow to view frequently asked questions