How to Choose the Best Business Check Paper - Check Printing

Choosing the best business check paper for your organization is a simple way to protect your organization from fraud. Check fraud is real and shows no sign of slowing down. As organizations look to implement solutions to prevent fraud, they are also looking for solutions that are easy to adopt.

Switching to preprinted or blank check paper with strong security features is a good first step in ensuring your organization doesn’t become a victim.

But before you choose which business check paper is best for your needs, there’s are a few things to consider…

• Should you use preprinted or blank check stock?
• How much security do you need?
• And, how secure is your check printing process?

By carefully considering these questions, your check printing process can be streamlined and more secure.

Preprinted or Blank Check Paper? (psst…our expert opinion is blank)

The first thing to consider is what type of check stock your organization should use – preprinted or blank. Using preprinted check stock may seem like a way to make the issuing of checks easier. But this isn’t necessarily the case. Preprinted actually introduces more procedures into your employees’ everyday workflow:

• Time-consuming chain of custody protocols
• Logging and auditing of preprinted stock
• Accidentally printing on sequential check numbers
  

Not only does it cost your employees precious time, but it also puts you and your business at a higher risk of check fraud.

This stock is a high value target by fraudsters since the bank routing and account numbers are already printed. Preprinted check stock exposes businesses to fraudulent activities, like theft, forged signatures, and counterfeiting. Sadly, this is mostly an internal risk from your own employees.

Simply put, preprinted check stock is a risky, expensive, and inefficient part of any organization’s check printing workflow.

We highly encourage the use of blank check stock for all organizations. By implementing blank check stock, your check printing can become more streamlined:

• No more chain of custody or logging
• No more worrying if you printed on sequential numbers
• No more voiding preprinted check numbers for a misprint

For those printing checks for multiple accounts, adopting blank check stock is not only more secure, but it eliminates the need to swap out stocks between customers, since you’re adding the MICR line (bank and routing numbers) at the point of print.

How Much Security Do You Need?

Whether your organization has decided to use preprinted or blank check stock, the next question you need to consider is: How much security do you need?

Both preprinted and blank check stock offer built-in security features that help protect the check from fraud.

One feature to consider is the addition of a watermark on the back of the check. This provides a verification method for banks to know the check is valid.

You also want to choose business check paper that supports high adhesion of the toner. While some toners offer a high-adhesion property by themselves, it is best to also use a check paper that is textured to promote optimal adhesion. This helps prevent toner scraping, a common tactic by fraudsters who will scrape toner and reprint the check to benefit them.

These anti-tamper features ensure that the printed check is protected, while also complying with banking standards.

Higher level features include serialization for logging of checks. This precise inventory control enables the logging of the serialized numbers. This way, if check fraud were to happen to your business, it can be tracked back to the source. This provides extra security to help prevent the sale and distribution of checks to unauthorized parties.

There are plenty of alternatives out there, but, as an example, we’ll outline three levels of secure blank check stock we offer:

• Security: base-level check stock with eight built in security features like Scancheck Verification, which reveals the word “valid” for authentication, and the Microprint that appears as a line to the naked eye, but shows as text under magnification
• Security Plus: a mid-level check stock with all the features of Security Check Stock with the addition of six more advanced features like Invisible Fluorescent fibers that glow when under UV light and a top of check Warning Band that serves as a reminder to review security features
• Fortress: the highest level of security available with 20 security features. Offers fluorescing UV features as well as being “controlled” stock following strict chain of custody rules, including a printed Document Control Number, providing precise inventory control to help prevent theft and provide authentication

One other thing. You’ll also want to make sure that whatever check paper you choose is Check 21 complaint. This will ensure that features of the check will appear when scanned to create a digital copy – even at low resolution.

Only One Piece of the Solution

Check paper is only the bow on the top of the box when it comes to a total, secure check printing solution. The real magic is inside a really big box that includes check printing software, a MICR Printer with locking trays, MICR toner, digital signatures, and a folder/stuffer if your volume is high enough. Utilizing all these components in your workflow gives you the most efficient and secure workflow for your printed check – whether you are using preprinted or blank check stock.

MICR printers enable you to print the bank routing and account numbers, i.e. the MICR line (assuming you’re printing on blank paper), in the precise location to pass bank clearing. A total solution works in tandem with check paper to enable printing of the whole check in one pass. You’ll be able to print the variable data, static data, and the MICR line in seconds. You’ll want to look for a MICR toner that features high adhesion and other security properties to help prevent check alteration.

Magnetic ink or toner is also mandated by the federal reserve. So, if your organization decides to use blank check stock, you’ll need a printer that can accurately place the MICR line, along with MICR toner for quick, accurate bank clearing. This helps ensure that your checks will pass all banking regulations.

Did You Decide Which Check Paper is Best for Your Needs?

Introducing secure business check paper into your check printing process is an important first step in protecting your organization from fraud. But simply relying on the stock is not enough. A total check printing solution can increase the security and efficiency, saving your organization time and money.

If you’d like help choosing a solution that’s right for your organization, talk with one of experts. We’ve been doing this almost 60 years and we’ll perform a quick check printing assessment at no charge. Call 304-232-0899 or email secure@troygroup.com to talk to a TROY rep. We can absolutely find the right check paper for you.