About Agency Relationship Management

Agency Relationship Management (ARM) works directly with all the RCM business lines to promote initiatives to the federal agencies. RCM’s Pilot Initiative tracker tracks the status of the Pilot initiative.

ARM advances agency outreach and communication and collaborates with industry stakeholders to understand the influence and effects of payment system rules, industry standards and conventions, and changing payment system practices.

We want to connect with our customers on their terms and with their needs in mind. It’s all about the ongoing interactions between RCM and our federal agency partners. Building a relationship and strengthening them with each interaction.

RCM believes engaging with our customers means building and maintaining authentic relationships. And, it all starts with you – the customer. By getting your insights, questions, and applying the right strategies to meet your individual agency needs.

Holistic Approach

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service (Fiscal Service) has adopted a holistic approach with federal agencies to improve cash management practices government-wide.

Our goal is to establish a management framework for moving toward an all-electronic Treasury. The Revenue Collections Management (RCM) area in the Fiscal Service is responsible for collecting government revenue. RCM's goals are to:

RCM works closely with federal agencies to develop a full understanding of an agency's entire collection portfolio and recommends integrated mechanisms to meet an agency's collection needs. Also, RCM establishes relationships in the chief financial officer's (CFO's) office to develop and administer the agency-wide holistic approach, rather than working with an agency on an individual program or ad hoc request basis. Throughout the entire process, all Fiscal Service program areas and agency representatives work cohesively to reach the goals of all parties involved.

The specific methodology used to implement the holistic approach to collections is outlined below. The agency and RCM will:

• set up agency-wide electronic collections goals and specific bureau-level metrics for each agency
• develop a strategic collections plan, with the right mix of collection strategies and implementation timelines
• cut the number of paper lockboxes and Treasury General Account (TGA) depositaries
• develop targeted marketing strategies to convince remitters to move from check payments to electronic remittances
• set up one agency participation agreement (APA) for each agency that will incorporate each collection mechanism application

ARM will:

• work with each federal agency from the CFO level downward through the bureaus and offices to develop a full understanding of the agency's collections at all levels
• serve as the central point of contact for agencies to ensure their needs are met
• ensure coordination between the agency and other Fiscal Service program areas
• work with the agency and the Fiscal Service to address issues that arise from time to time
• meet regularly with the agencies' CFO offices to review progress in developing and carrying out the collections strategic plan

For more information on the holistic approach, please contact your Agency customer relationship manager at arm@fiscal.treasury.gov.