Yes! But first, let us clarify that we are talking about products that print checks on blank check/security paper and not printing on checks that already have the bank and company information preprinted on them.

The MICR check processing system is based on the special numbers and symbols you typically see on the bottom of checks that are recognized magnetically by devices called readers/sorters. Dot matrix, inkjet and many laser printer inks and toners have "no" magnetic properties. Some laser printer toners have limited magnetic properties, but do not meet American National Standards Institute "ANSI" standards for magnetic strength or durability. Checks must be able to pass through a reader/sorter, an abrasive process, as many as 30 times and still be recognized.

MICR toner is a specially formulated toner mixture containing a high percentage of ferrous oxide, designed for use with a specific laser printer. MICR toner is similar to standard laser printer toner, but requires a 50% to 60% iron oxide additive content that permits the "bank line" information of a check to be read by electronic bank processing equipment. An ABA standard (X9B) requires that the MICR laser printer "fuse" the MICR toner onto the check paper to withstand a minimum of 30 passes through an automated document sort process while the check is cleared through the banking system.

The American Banking Association "ABA" developed rigid standards for toner adhesion and MICR line readability. It is a tribute to the sophistication of the sorting system that they work at all. Checks that do not meet these standards will fail the reader/sorter and must be read by hand, a very expensive and time-consuming process. The MICR enhanced printers produced by the handful of responsible, committed manufactures do meet banking specifications.

Banks are now levying charges against companies whose checks fail to meet the ABA standard. A testing and guaranteed MICR printer is critical to the check printing process. Some printers provide security features that render the printer inoperative unless a MICR toner cartridge is inserted.

It is paper that has been engineered and manufactured to incorporate certain physical attributes, imbedding them into the paper itself. Why? To resist document forgery and the copying of negotiable documents when they're printed on MICR laser printers.

The paper is fully compliant with the physical paper standards of weight, grain direction, moisture content, etc, for MICR laser printers.

It also possesses additional "chemical and fiber fraud-resistant features" built into the paper during the manufacturing process.

Plain laser printer paper meets the physical standards of the laser printer, but does not possess any of the capabilities of fiber, chemical or external processes that make "security paper" fraud resistant and tamper proof.

Security papers are a major preventative in stopping forged checks from being cleared and paid against business accounts.

MICR laser printing has the capability to imprint all information on the check including the MICR line, your digitized signature and all other variable information. The same blank safety check stock can be used for any number of bank accounts. The MICR printer applies the data to the check with magnetic toner that enables the "MICR line" to be read by your bank's processing equipment..

Security paper is inexpensive. And when security paper is used for MICR laser check production, the use of the security paper will often offset a significant amount of the investment of a MICR laser check software solution by itself.

Dependent upon the volume utilized, blank security check stock can run from between .03 per sheet through .05 per sheet.

Comparable "preprinted MICR check stock can range most generally from .10 on the low side to an average of over .25 per form.

It is risky, expensive and wasteful not to utilize security paper in a MICR check issuance process. Use of security papers has been proven to reduce the numbers of check fraud attempts significantly. Documented and published in national banking magazines, these findings have also been formally presented at check fraud and banking conferences in the United States.