ACH Transfer to an Exchange Returned for R10: What the Code Means and How to Fix It

06 November 2026

An ACH transfer returned with code R10 means the bank that issued your account has reversed the payment because the account you sent from was closed or does not exist. The money will go back to the originating bank, usually within 3 - 5 business days. To fix it, you must contact your bank to confirm the account is open and correct the account details before resending the transfer.

What R10 actually means

R10 is a standard Nacha return reason code. It stands for "Account Closed." The receiving bank (the exchange's bank) sent the transfer back to your bank because the account number you provided as the source of funds does not belong to an active account.

Common scenarios that trigger R10:

You closed the bank account but forgot to update it on the exchange.
You entered the wrong account number when linking the bank to the exchange.
The bank closed your account for activity it considered suspicious, including repeated crypto exchange transfers (see the article "Bank account closed after crypto exchange transfers why and what to do" for more on that).
The account was frozen or restricted, which some banks treat as equivalent to closed for ACH purposes.

What happens to your money

The R10 return triggers a reversal of the ACH credit. Here is the general flow:

The exchange's bank receives the return code and reverses the deposit from the exchange's account.
The exchange sees the reversal and deducts the credited amount from your exchange balance or pending deposit.
Your bank receives the funds back and credits your account. This usually takes 3 - 5 business days from the return date, though some banks process it faster.

If the exchange had already let you trade with the funds and you lost them, your account will go negative. The exchange will demand repayment. If you cannot repay, the exchange may freeze your account, liquidate other holdings, or send the debt to collections.

How to fix it

Step 1: verify your bank account status

Call your bank. Ask:

Is the account open and in good standing?
Are there any holds, freezes, or restrictions that prevent ACH debits or credits?
Was the account closed or flagged for closure?

If the account is closed, you cannot use it for ACH transfers. You will need to open a new account or use a different one.

Step 2: Correct the Account Details on the Exchange

Log into the exchange and go to the payment methods or bank accounts section. Remove the old, incorrect bank account. Add the correct one.

If you linked the account through Plaid or another data aggregator, sometimes the system pulls outdated information. Manually re-link the account and verify the account and routing numbers match your bank statement.

Step 3: Resend the Transfer

Once the correct account is linked, initiate a new ACH transfer. Do not attempt to resend to the old, returned account number. The same R10 code will trigger again.

Step 4: If the Exchange Shows a Negative Balance

Contact the exchange support team. Explain that the R10 return was due to a closed or incorrect account. Provide proof that you have corrected the issue. Ask whether they can reverse the negative balance or if you must deposit new funds to cover it.

Most exchanges require you to make the account whole before you can withdraw or trade again.

Why this happens even when you think the account is open

Banks sometimes close accounts without clear notice. Common triggers include:

Multiple ACH reversals or returns on the same account.
A pattern of deposits to cryptocurrency exchanges, which some banks flag as high-risk.
The account being dormant for months and then suddenly used for a large transfer.
A mismatch between the name on the bank account and the name on the exchange.

If you received no closure notice, check your bank statements and online portal. If the account appears active but the bank treats it as closed for ACH, you may need to visit a branch to resolve it.

What not to do

Do not send a wire transfer using the same closed account number. Wires use a different system, but if the account is truly closed, the wire will be rejected or returned with fees deducted.
Do not open a new account at the same bank and assume the old account number carries over. It does not.
Do not ignore a negative balance on the exchange. It will not go away and may result in account suspension or legal action.

How to Prevent R10 Returns in the Future

Keep your bank account active and in good standing.
If you close a bank account, remove it from every exchange and payment service first.
Use a bank that explicitly allows cryptocurrency exchange transfers. Some banks block or flag these transactions, which can lead to account closure without warning.
Confirm your account and routing numbers before submitting a transfer. Double-check against a voided check or official bank document.