Review check exceptions before the cutoff

Go through each flagged check and figure out what's off. You're looking at four main mismatch types: amount doesn't match, check number isn't in the issued file, payee name is wrong, or it's a duplicate presentment. Pull the check image for each one - you'll need it when you call the customer. Split your exceptions into two buckets: ones that need a customer call, and ones where the fraud is obvious enough that you can return immediately without asking. That split saves time in the next step.

Call or message the customers who need to make a pay or return call on their flagged items. Send the check image when you can - it speeds things up. You need their decision in writing if at all possible; email's fine for that. If you can't get someone on the phone, leave a voicemail and follow up with email so there's a paper trail. Log every contact attempt with the time and method - you'll thank yourself if there's a dispute later.

Enter every decision into the positive pay system before the cutoff. Watch the clock - this is the hard deadline. For customers you couldn't reach, apply their standing default decision; most have set return as their default, so don't assume. Use the correct reason codes when processing fraud returns - wrong codes create compliance problems downstream. Once you're done, run the exception report and save it. That report's your audit trail if anything gets questioned later.