M&T Bank positive pay file format
M&T direct transmission ARP (147-char fixed width)
Independent documentation. Not affiliated with or endorsed by M&T Bank.
Skip the manual formatting: generate this file from your check register in your browser. Your check data never leaves your computer.
File layout
Fixed-width text file, .txt extension, with trailer/total record.
| Position | Field | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | Account Number | 15 chars · zero-filled, right-justified |
| 16–25 | Check Number | 10 chars · zero-filled, right-justified |
| 26–37 | Dollar Amount | 12 chars · implied decimal (no point) · zero-filled, right-justified |
| 38–45 | Date | 8 chars · YYYYMMDD |
| 46–46 | Record Indicator | 1 char |
| 47–47 | Blank | 1 char |
| 48–147 | Payee | 100 chars · UPPERCASE |
Void handling: issued checks marked "(blank)", voided checks marked "V".
Notes: Payee must be CAPITALS, exactly as printed on the check (we uppercase automatically). Void indicator must be capital V. For Web InfoPLU$ imports, M&T instead uses a client-defined mapping; use the custom/generic option for that channel.
Source: Transcribed from the bank’s own published specification (checked July 2026). Reference: M&T Bank ARP-G02 specification (Rev. Mar 2015).
How to create a M&T Bank positive pay file
Export your check register from QuickBooks, your ERP, or a spreadsheet, then use the free generator: upload the file, match your columns once, choose “M&T direct transmission ARP (147-char fixed width)”, and download a file formatted exactly as above. Processing happens entirely in your browser, so account and check data never leaves your computer. Always verify your first file with a test upload in your bank portal.