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MICR Toner FAQs ... Do I need to use MICR toner
when printing checks?
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.
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What is the difference between traditional laser toner and
MICR toner?
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.
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Why can't I just put a MICR toner cartridge in my standard
laser printer?
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.
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Why is MICR toner only available for a few laser printers?
MICR toner, just like standard toner, has to be formulated for
each printer "engine." As you have probably noticed, there are
hundreds of models of laser printers. Since MICR is not a mainstream
product, there has to be sufficient demand for a toner manufacturer
to invest in formulating a MICR toner for a specific printer
engine.
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What is blank paper stock?
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. How?
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The paper is fully compliant with the physical paper standards
of weight, grain direction, moisture content, etc, for MICR
laser printers.
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It also possesses additional "chemical and fiber fraud-resistant
features" built into the paper during the manufacturing
process.
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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.
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Security papers are a major preventative in stopping forged
checks from being cleared and paid against business accounts.
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What's the reason for such security paper?
Easy -- $13 billion in losses in the United States due to check
fraud. And those are 1996 statistics! The problem is growing
-- document fraud costs everyone millions of dollars every day.
Why?
- With today's laser printer technology, over 99.6% of checks
can be readily reproduced on laser printers with devastating
results to American businesses.
- Computers, scanners, and high resolution color copiers
easily duplicate original documents.
- Desktop laser printers produce authentic documents of
all types: checks, coupons, certificates and the like.
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How is a check printed from blank safety check stock?
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.
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Is blank check safety stock expensive?
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.
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Dependent upon the volume utilized, blank security check
stock can run from between .03 per sheet through .05 per
sheet.
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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.
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Check Paper Specifications
Paper utilized for MICR laser check printing must meet the specifications
outlined in ANSI X9.18 Paper Specifications for Checks.
The major issue of the paper and MICR printing is the ability
to produce high quality images with optimal adhesion of toner
to paper. The documents must also be capable of withstanding
human handling and the high-speed processing of reading and
sorting by machines.
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top] |
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MICR Toner FAQs:
Do I need to use MICR toner
when printing checks?
What is the difference
between traditional laser toner and MICR toner?
Why can't I just put a MICR
toner cartridge in my standard laser printer?
Why is MICR toner only
available for a few laser printers?
Why is MICR toner only
available for a few laser printers?
What is blank paper stock?
What's the reason for such
security paper?
How is a check printed from
blank safety check stock?
Check Paper Specifications?
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