Financial Institution Resources Overview   

Financial institutions play a vital role in ensuring that Ohio's families receive the support they deserve. In addition to processing Income Withholding for Support (JFS 04047) to deduct support obligations from their employees' payroll checks, financial institutions also process orders for recurring bank account withdraws for obligors to pay their support directly.  Many financial institutions also participate in a quarterly Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM).

Income Withholding (for employees)  

To initiate payroll deductions for support, a court or Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) will issue an Income Withholding for Support. For information on withholding and remitting support obligations in response to receiving an Income Withholding for Support, click here.  

Income Deduction (for account holders)  

Obligors that are not under wage withholding may have support deducted as a recurring debit from their financial institution account.  A court or CSEA will issue a Notice to Deduct Funds for Child and Spousal Support (JFS 04017) to initiate this process.  In accordance with Chapter 3121 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), financial institutions are required to deduct payments as specified in the notice. These notices may be sent to financial institutions by mail or electronically.

Income Deduction Remittance Options   

Financial institutions must begin withholding no later than 14 business days after the date of the notice and they must send the payment immediately to Ohio Child Support Payment Central (CSPC), but no later than 7 business days after the date the withdraw is made.  Payments can be sent to Ohio CSPC by mail or electronically.

Electronically (Preferred Method)     

• Electronic payments save financial institutions time, money, and the hassle of tracking and reissuing lost checks. Remitting electronically simply streamlines the support withholding process.
• For additional information about setting up electronic payments, contact CSPC Customer Support at 888-965-2676 or ohsdu.cs@smimail.net. They will discuss the various options for remitting electronic payments and will give you special file format instructions.
• Visit www.oh.smartchildsupport.com and click on the Employer ACH Credit (EFT/EDI) Packet and National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) User Guide for Electronic Child Support Payments for detailed technical information.

Paper Check  

• Make check payable to Ohio CSPC and send to P.O. Box 182372 Columbus, OH 43218-2372  
• Include with your payment the following information:
• Obligor's Name
• Obligor's SSN (optional)
• Obligor's case(s)
• Obligor's order(s)
• Amount that should be applied to each case/order if remitting for multiple orders
• An indication that the payment is for an account holder
• Stop Payments: You must confirm that the payment has not already been processed by CSPC prior to stopping payment on a check remitted to CSPC. In addition, you must submit a stop payment affidavit within two business days to OHSDU.finance@SMImail.net, indicating that the check was lost or stolen.

Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM)     

The Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) process is an enforcement option that involves matching a delinquent obligor with his or her financial institution account.  The process helps get money to families by freezing and seizing the financial assets of an obligor who is behind on his or her support.  This enforcement option is only used to collect support arrearages.     

The program for financial institutions that conduct business in multiple states is referred to as Multi-State Financial Institution Data Match (MSFIDM).  Financial institutions that only do business in Ohio or who choose not to participant in the MSFIDM program are categorized as Single-State Financial Institution Data Match (SSFIDM). 

Financial institutions that participate in the MSFIDM program will receive a file with a list of delinquent obligors from the Federal Case Registry (FCR) to be compared to their accounts for possible matches.  The matches are returned  the FCR, which sends them to the states for potential enforcement action. In Ohio, a county child support enforcement agency (CSEA) will then issue any appropriate notices to the financial institution.  

Ohio contracts with a private vendor to administer the SSFIDM program. Much like the MSFIDM program, financial institutions receive a file with a list of delinquent obligors to be compared to their accounts for possible matches. The matches are returned to the vendor who, in turn, sends the matches to the CSEAs for potential enforcement action. A CSEA will then issue any appropriate notices to the financial institution.   

When a CSEA receives a match from the MSFIDM or SSFIDM programs, they will evaluate the case to determine if they will initiate a freeze and seize on the obligor’s financial account.  If they do, they will issue the following notices as necessary.

• Financial Institution Account Access Restriction (JFS 04050). This notice is sent to both the obligor and financial institution, instructing the institution to freeze funds up to the amount of support arrearage owed.
• Financial Institution Account Full or Partial Release of Access Restriction (JFS 04051). This notice is sent to the financial institution when the CSEA determines that some or all of the held funds can be released.
• Financial Institution Account Withdrawal Directive (JFS 04055). This notice is sent to the financial institution, instructing the financial institution to withdraw a specific amount and remit it for the case listed to Ohio CSPC.
• Financial Institution Account Withdrawal Directive for Obligors with Multiple Cases (JFS0406). This notice is sent to a financial institution when an obligor has multiple cases, instructing the financial institution to withdrawal specific amount and remit it for the cases listed to CSPC.

FIDM Remittance Options  

Electronically (Preferred Method)   

• Electronic payments save financial institutions time, money, and the hassle of tracking and reissuing lost checks. Remitting electronically simply streamlines the support withholding process.
• When remitting electronic FIDM payments it is essential that you use the following specific file formatting.
• All financial institutions, regardless of whether they are categorized as MSFIDM or SSFIDM, must use "FD" in the application identifier field of the electronic payment file. 
  • DED*application identifier*case identifier*pay date*payment amount*noncustodial parent ssn*medical support indicator*non-custodial parent name*FIPS code*employment termination indicator\   
• If you are remitting a FIDM payment for multiple payors and/or for a payor with multiple cases/orders, you must submit each payment separately.   
• For additional information on the requirements for submitting support payments electronically, please visit www.oh.smartchildsupport.com and click on NACHA's User Guide for Electronic Child Support Payments.
• If you have any questions about the file format requirements, please contact CSPC Customer Support at 888-965-2676 or ohsdu.cs@smimail.net .

Paper Check  

• Make check payable to Ohio CSPC and send to P.O. Box 182372 Columbus, OH 43218-2372
• Stop payments: You must confirm that the payment has not already been processed by CSPC prior to stopping payment on a check remitted to CPSC. In addition, you must submit a stop payment affidavit within two business days to ohsdu.finance@smimail.net, indicating that the check was lost or stolen.
• Include the FIDM coupon from the Financial Institution Account Withdrawal Directive (JFS 04055 or JFS 04046) with your check.   

Questions?  

Last Updated 11/12/2021