
If you're a business owner looking to streamline your financial operations, investing in a bank check printer can be a game-changer. These specialized printers are designed to produce high-quality checks quickly and efficiently.
They come in various types, including inkjet, laser, and dot matrix printers. Inkjet printers, for example, are known for their high print resolution and are often preferred for their cost-effectiveness.
With a bank check printer, you can print checks with your company's logo and other custom details, giving your business a professional touch. This can be especially useful for businesses that need to issue a lot of checks, such as accountants and lawyers.
Some bank check printers also come with additional features, such as MICR encoding, which allows you to print checks with the necessary banking information. This can save you time and reduce errors.
What You Need to Know
Bank check printers are designed to work with specific types of checks, including 8.5 x 11 inch, sheet-fed, three-to-a-page, business-sized checks.
These applications can also accommodate voucher checks and wallet-sized checks, but the checks must be pre-printed with essential information such as the check number, name, address, routing number, and checking account number.
You can use bank check printers to print multiple checks at once, with some applications allowing you to toggle a disclosure triangle to reveal fields for additional checks.
To print checks, you'll typically need to enter the date, amount, and payee's name, as well as any additional information such as an address or note.
Some bank check printers offer autocompletion features that can help speed up the process by suggesting names and addresses from your Contacts app as you type.
These applications often provide a Log window that keeps track of printed checks, allowing you to easily keep track of your transactions.
Bank check printers usually require you to set up preferences, such as choosing a check style, modifying the font, and selecting a signature image.
These custom settings are often saved as presets, which you can create and share with others.
Some bank check printers allow you to export and import presets, making it easy to share your settings with colleagues or clients.
If you need to accommodate different languages or currencies, you can often check a box in the preferences to apply language preferences and use the Language & Region settings in the System Preferences.
Here's a quick rundown of the types of checks that can be printed with bank check printers:
MICR Printing Standards:
MICR printing standards are crucial for ensuring that bank checks are printed correctly and securely. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has established a set of standards for MICR printing, known as ANSI X.9.
These standards ensure that MICR technology is used in a way that improves financial security measures and reduces the chance of check fraud. The standards are designed to be followed by all MICR technology, including MICR printers and MICR ink.
The MICR fonts used on checks or financial documents should be either E-13B or CMC-7, depending on the banking standards of the country. In the United States, the official font used is the E-13B font.
The MICR line is made up of ten number characters (0-9) and four special symbols in the form of a transit, amount, on-us, and dash. This line is broken up into 5 fields: the amount, on-us, transit, EPC, and auxiliary on-us field.
Here's a breakdown of the MICR line fields:
Check Specifications
The size of a check is pretty straightforward. According to ANSI, it must be at least 6 inches wide and no more than 8.75 inches. The height should be between 2.75 and 3.66 inches.
To ensure your checks print smoothly, choose premium quality check paper. This is crucial because it will help prevent faulty or damaged checks from printing.
The weight of the paper should be at least 20-pound long grain, and the moisture content should be between 4.7 to 5.5%.
Size of Check
The size of a check is a crucial aspect to consider. According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the standard check size must be at least 6 inches wide.

The width of a check can't exceed 8.75 inches. This ensures that checks are easy to handle and process.
The height of a check also has specific requirements, and it must be between 2.75 and 3.66 inches. This standardization helps prevent errors and ensures that checks fit properly in checkbooks and processing systems.
Check Paper Specifications
To ensure your checks print smoothly, it's essential to use the right paper.
The weight of the paper should be at least 20-pound long grain.
Using low-quality check paper can lead to faulty or damaged checks.
The paper moisture content should be between 4.7 to 5.5% to meet ANSI standards.
By choosing premium quality check paper, you can avoid delays in the printing process.
Printing Supplies
When printing bank checks, it's essential to have the right printing supplies to ensure high-quality output.
The ink used in bank check printers is specifically designed to resist fading and bleeding, even when exposed to water and light.
A standard set of ink cartridges for a bank check printer usually includes cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, which are used to create a wide range of colors.
The paper used for printing bank checks is typically 24-pound or 80 gsm, which is heavier and more durable than regular printing paper.
This heavier paper stock helps prevent the checks from tearing or ripping, even when handled frequently.
The standard size for bank checks is 8.5 x 11 inches, which is the same size as a standard US letter sheet of paper.
This size allows for easy insertion into check registers and wallets, making it more convenient for users.
The ink and paper used for printing bank checks are designed to meet the standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Your Business
Your business can benefit from a MICR printing solution that mitigates check fraud and automates operations. This can be achieved with the right printer, such as the Source Technologies MICR printing solutions.
Having a reliable printer can help streamline your business processes and reduce errors. By automating your current operations, you can save time and resources.
To find the right printer for your business, you can connect with the team of MICR specialists who can provide guidance on the best solution for your needs.
Customers Print Own Checks
By implementing self-service kiosk platforms, bank branches are automating everyday transactions, giving customers more control over their transactions.
This solution reduces the time it takes to get an official check from 9 minutes to about 40 seconds.
With personal teller machines interconnected with MICR printers, customers can print their own official and counter checks.
This convenience is a game-changer for businesses that value speed and efficiency in their banking operations.
Your Business
As a business owner, you want to ensure your operations run smoothly and efficiently. You can mitigate check fraud by finding a MICR printing solution that meets ANSI standards.
Having a reliable MICR printing solution can automate your current operations, making it easier to manage your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print my own bank checks?
Yes, you can print your own bank checks at home, as long as they contain the necessary information and are formatted correctly. However, to ensure they are considered legal and valid, please check our guidelines for more details.
What is a MICR check printer?
A MICR check printer is a specialized printer that uses Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) technology to print bank checks and other financial documents with unique fonts and codes. This printer is designed to help financial institutions and businesses securely print checks and other financial documents.
Sources
- https://ricks-apps.com/osx/bankcheckprinter/archive/3.x/3.1.x/3.1/manual/pgs/Overview.html
- https://ricks-apps.com/osx/bankcheckprinter/index.html
- https://www.sourcetech.com/blog/self-service-banking-and-check-printing-with-micr
- https://onlinecheckwriter.com/check-printers/
- https://www.sourcetech.com/blog/check-printing-and-compliance
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