Table of Contents

Foreword
Table of Figures
Introduction
Understanding, Designing and Producing Checks
1. Scope, purpose and application
   1.1 Scope and purpose
   1.2 Application
2. References
   2.1 Additional references
3. Terms and definitions
4. Understanding checks
   4.1 General
       4.1.1 What is a Check?
       4.1.2 What is check design?
       4.1.3 What Financial Institutions want you to know
   4.2 Life cycle of a check
       4.2.1 Design and manufacturing cycle
       4.2.2 Check processing cycle
   4.3 Minimum check completion requirements
       4.3.1 The Amount - how much money is involved?
       4.3.2 The Payor - whose signature is authorizing the
              transfer?
       4.3.3 The Payee - who is receiving the money?
       4.3.4 The Date - when can the transfer occur?
   4.4 Best practices for check preparation
       4.4.1 Check design
       4.4.2 Check preparation and handling
       4.4.3 Automated check preparation
       4.4.4 Check design and payee responsibilities
   4.5 Check processing technologies
       4.5.1 Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)
       4.5.2 Image capture
       4.5.3 Convenience amount recognition (CAR)
       4.5.4 MICR repair
   4.6 MICR and the United States Payments System
       4.6.1 Serial Number usage on documents
       4.6.2 Routing Field usage on documents
       4.6.3 Routing Field and document design management
5. Check design
   5.1 General
       5.1.1 MICR document specification form
       5.1.2 Document Design Management
   5.2 Requirements for all MICR documents
       5.2.1 Format
       5.2.2 Check size
       5.2.3 Paper
       5.2.4 The MICR line
   5.3 Legal and regulatory requirements
       5.3.1 Date
       5.3.2 Amount
       5.3.3 Payee area
       5.3.4 Signature area
       5.3.5 Payor institution name
       5.3.6 Fractional Routing Number
   5.4 Optional design elements
       5.4.1 Account Title
       5.4.2 Memo/for line
       5.4.3 Check Serial Number
       5.4.4 Decorations
       5.4.5 Preprinted data
       5.4.6 Security features
       5.4.7 The back of the check
   5.5 Deposit tickets design requirements
       5.5.1 Design considerations for deposit tickets
       5.5.2 Data elements for deposit tickets
   5.6 Personal-size checks
       5.6.1 General
       5.6.2 Standard features
       5.6.3 Personal-size deposit tickets
       5.6.4 Personal-size check security
   5.7 Business-size checks
       5.7.1 General
       5.7.2 Standard features
       5.7.3 Variable features
       5.7.4 Business-size deposit tickets
       5.7.5 Business-size check security
   5.8 Special use checks
       5.8.1 General
       5.8.2 Checks for window envelopes
       5.8.3 Pre-authorized checks or drafts
       5.8.4 One-Write checks
       5.8.5 Payable-through drafts
       5.8.6 Bank official checks
       5.8.7 Travelers cheques
       5.8.8 Rebate checks
       5.8.9 Gift checks
       5.8.10 Money orders
   5.9 Check design examples
       5.9.1 Ideal designs
       5.9.2 Poorly executed designs
6. Check production considerations
   6.1 Check ordering and production cycle
       6.1.1 Check production for subsequent completion
       6.1.2 Simultaneous check production and completion
       6.1.3 Common requirements for all check production
   6.2 Check stock background printing
       6.2.1 Paper requirements
       6.2.2 Security features
       6.2.3 Check background and forms design
       6.2.4 Shipment and storage preparation
       6.2.5 Compatibility
   6.3 Check personalization and MICR code line
       6.3.1 Account holder and issuing bank data locations
       6.3.2 MICR code line and fractional routing number
       6.3.3 Serialization
   6.4 Finishing operations
       6.4.1 Quality issues
   6.5 Check completion
       6.5.1 Completion by hand
       6.5.2 Completion by machine
   6.6 Common problems
       6.6.1 Toner adhesion
       6.6.2 Clear band infringement
       6.6.3 Sticky checks
       6.6.4 One-piece mailers (self mailers)
   6.7 MICR document production processes
       6.7.1 MICR printing methods
   6.8 Finishing operations
       6.8.1 Cutting
       6.8.2 Font considerations
Annex A The History of the Check
  A.1 Early history
  A.2 Possible automation solutions
  A.3 The orange book standard publication 147
  A.4 American National Standards and ISO Standards
  A.5 The future of the check
Annex B Federal Reserve Bank Codes
Annex C City and State Prefix Numbers
Table of Figures
Tables

Abstract

Provides guidelines for the design and production of a check and describes the proper location of the data elements on the check, along with the rationale for those requirements. Provides a summary of these requirements and other optional elements, with references, where appropriate, to standards and legal documents.

General Product Information

Published
Document Type	Standard
Status	Current
Publisher	American Bankers Association
Pages
ISBN
Committee	X9