What is a MICR Laser Check Printer?

The abbreviation MICR actually stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition.

Now that we know what a laser check printer is, what is a MICR laser check printer? Apparently, a MICR laser check printer comes with the appropriate numbers you need for your payroll checks and a higher security.

The abbreviation MICR actually stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. At the bottom of every check there is printed a 65-character line of numbers and special characters. That 65-character line consists of four different groups. The first group is the dollar amount of the check, the second is the account number, the third is the transit number, and the fourth is the auxiliary field.

These four groups of numbers and special characters are used in automated check clearing during the actual process of clearing a check. The financial institution that the check is sent to for clearance (usually your employee’s bank account), uses these four sets of numbers and special characters.

The Magnetic Ink Character Recognition line data and field positioning use the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the ABA standards. According to Acom Solutions, there are four standards that are required by the banking industry for MICR printing. This is what makes an MICR laser check printer different than a regular laser printer.

Here they are from Acom –

The MICR laser printer must conform to the ANSI X.9 standards for MICR printing.
MICR laser printers are either built or general laser printers are modified and adjusted to conform to the six ABA developed standards.
Normal laser printers conform only to user readability preferences, while MICR laser printers must conform to electronic MICR durability, uniformity, numeric placement and font standards.
Special removable font cartridges and PCMCIA cards hold the fonts, company logos, signatures, and other information needed to print checks.

What this means for your business is better security, a reduction of fraud, and safer check printing.

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