How Can Cheque Printers Confirm Cheques Meet New Specifications?

Cheque printers, software providers, and organizations printing their own cheques are strongly encouraged to provide pre-production samples to their financial institution to ensure compliance with the latest standards.
Contact your financial institution for details on the testing process and timelines.

Does Magnetic Ink Still Need to Be Used in the MICR Line?

Yes, magnetic ink must still be used in the MICR line. Automated processing equipment relies on magnetic ink to read data from the MICR line, ensuring smooth cheque clearing and processing.

What is MICR in MICR Toner?

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) is the machine-readable technology used in cheque processing. MICR characters, printed with magnetic ink or toner, convey crucial information such as:

• Cheque number
• Bank routing number
• Chequeing account number
• Sometimes, the cheque amount

MICR characters use either an E-13B or CMC-7 font, specially designed for high-speed readability by cheque sorting machines. For more details, explore our Laser Cheques page.

Key Terms You Should Know:

• MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition): Technology for printing readable cheque data.
• MICR Printing: Printing MICR lines with precise placement for machine readability.
• MICR Toner: Magnetic toner used for cheque printing.

MICR Printing Options

Pre-printed cheques come with the MICR line already included and are produced by high-speed impact equipment. While pre-printed cheques are reliable, they may not be cost-effective for businesses with low cheque volumes.

Alternatively, businesses can order blank cheques and print the MICR line in-house using a desktop laser printer with MICR toner. This method is flexible and cost-efficient, especially for companies managing multiple accounts.

MICR Toner for Blank Cheque Printing

MICR toner allows businesses to print cheques on-demand using blank cheque stock. The toner contains magnetic iron oxide, ensuring the MICR line is machine-readable. Without MICR toner, the MICR line may appear correct visually but will not be readable by sorting machines, leading to cheque rejects and additional bank fees.

Factors to Consider When Choosing MICR Toner:

• Cartridge Type: New cartridges are more reliable than remanufactured ones.
• Cartridge Brand: Premium brands typically offer better performance and consistency.
• Cartridge Price: Balance quality and cost for optimal results.

To learn more about our cheque printing options, visit our Business Cheques page.

Why Choose Cheques Now?

Cheques Now offers secure, high-quality blank cheques and MICR solutions to meet your business needs. With over 30 years of experience, we provide expert advice and reliable products for cheque printing. Explore our Home Page or contact us for more information.