Managing the Risks of Payment Systems

Written primarily for students taking courses in managerial economics in Britain and Europe, The Business Economics and Managerial Decision Making analyses the growth and development of privately owned firms and also the decisions made by firms operating in both private and public sector enterprises. Coverage is clear and concise, and avoids specialist techniques such as linear programming, which in a European context tend to belong in courses dealing with operations research. The book also avoids straying into areas of industrial economics, instead retaining a sharp focus on relevant issues such as the theory of the firm and the varying objectives that may be adopted in practice. Key sections are supported by case studies of real firms and actual decisions made.
This book is a comprehensive, easily-referenced guide to understanding and managing the risks typically encountered by business organizations in the United States as they make and receive payments. An understanding of these risks has become necessary in today's environment, as evolving technologies, new laws and procedures, and the problems of check and electronic fraud have become inextricably intertwined.

Managing the Risks of Payment Systems is written for corporate executives, treasurers, funds managers, controllers, auditors, bankers, and their respective legal counsels. This book provides a basic understanding of the risks of the payment systems, how the law allocates those risks among the payor, the payee, and the collecting and paying banks, and how to best manage those risks. As the authors declare in Chapter One: "We didn't know" is no excuse.

The authors explain how to develop procedures to control the payment system risks and how to maintain and protect the legal rights of the parties to banking agreements. Chapters discuss:

* Checks and the risk of fraud
* Wire transfers and liability for fraud and errors
* The risks in the automated clearinghouse (ACH) system
* Commerce and payments in cyberspace
* How to identify and manage corporate payment system risks, including systems disruptions, backup, and physical security :