How to print checks with MICR toner
Printing checks in-house instead of purchasing pre-printed checks can be a great way for businesses and individuals to reduce office supply costs. Small businesses and individuals who issue a lot of checks and bank deposits may find that they can print their own checks at a fraction of the cost of buying new checkbooks. Most standard printers can be equipped to print MICR control lines using several printer accessories.
MICR Printer Plugin Checklist
Modern improvements in MICR check printing and printer technology have made it possible to print checks in almost any standard printer make and model. Large freestanding office printers and home office printer-scanner-copiers can be customized to print MICR row data. To do this, however, printers that aren’t primarily designed to print MICR toner need a few accessories. These supplements include:
Check the printing software
Blank check with high security
Fonts MICR (E-13B)
Compatible toner cartridges MICR
Check the printing software
Most standard accounting software programs, such as Quickbooks and Lacerte, come equipped with check printing software. These accounting software systems are often all the software you need to be able to design, create, and print checks. In situations where no other software program is used, stand-alone check printing software applications are available specifically for MICR check printing. Check printing must be installed on the computer from which the checks are printed.
Blank check with high security
To be considered valid and processable by bank machines, checks must be printed on special blank check paper. Check paper backgrounds must contain certain security features, specifically approval from the American Bankers Association (ABA), the same organization that wrote the standards for MICR printing. Other check paper security features may include watermarks, fluorescent fibers, a copier blank feature, and prismatic rainbow features. Most office supply stores and online vendors sell blank check paper for printing checks.
Fonts MICR
The E-13B MICR font system, which is the standard MICR font system used by banks in the US and around the world, is a hardware add-on that must be installed in order for printers to print MICR check lines. This font pack, which is standard, is sold by a number of specialty office supply stores and online font/printer accessory suppliers.
Toner cartridges MICR
MICR toner cartridges are produced by both printer manufacturers and third-party or aftermarket toner ink manufacturers. LaserJet MICR cartridges can be purchased for most common printer models, but they must be compatible with the specific printer model to accurately print MICR data. Quality standards vary widely between cartridge manufacturers, so it’s a good idea to research the MICR toner manufacturer to read their quality standards and recommendations before purchasing from them.
MICR cartridges can be installed in the same way that standard ink toner cartridges are installed. Because MICR toner is usually more expensive than standard toner, and because MICR fonts require special installation, printers equipped to print MICR checks are only used for MICR printing.
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