How to Create Your Own Personal Check Orders
Buying checks through a bank or commercial check printer can be expensive and inconvenient. Some people create personal checks at home for money-management reasons. Others create personal checks as a means of self-expression. Whatever the reason, there are right and wrong ways to do it. According to the National Check Fraud Center, one of the fastest-growing problems in the nation's financial system is check fraud and counterfeiting. Together, they produce losses of about $10 billion annually and growing. Ensure that your checks do not become part of this problem by taking the steps necessary to print safe and secure checks at home.
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Things You'll Need
- Check-printing software
- Magnetic Ink
- Check stock paper
- Secure fonts (optional)
- Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) fonts
- Printer
Instructions
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Instructions
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Install check-writing software, download and install fonts. Check-writing software is available through numerous retailers, both online and in retail stores. Important considerations include features, ease of use and help and support. Your personal needs will determine the best software to buy. Install software according to the method of purchase and the manufacturer's instructions.
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Protect yourself and your checks from fraud or forgery by using secure fonts that have a special, difficult to alter True Type/Open Type format. Although a standard or secure font is acceptable for most parts of a check, the bottom line containing bank information, such as the bank routing number and account number, should always use magnetic ink and be an MICR font. This is important for check-processing requirements. Automatic check-processing machines can read only magnetic ink in MICR font types. A check not meeting these requirements must be hand-processed. Both secure and MICR fonts are available for download from numerous online retailers. In addition, some laser printers come with a limited assortment of these font types.
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Create a template and enter your personal information. Each software manufacturer will have its own process for creating a template to use when printing personal checks. The process usually includes creating a profile for yourself, your bank and, optionally, common payees. This information eliminates the need to re-enter information for each check you write. In addition to profile information, you will choose font types and design options. Once your template information is complete, print a test check to verify that all information is correct and the check looks how you want it to look.
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Write and print checks. Load your printer with check stock paper, enter any required information specific to the payee and print.
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Tips & Warnings
Not every printer can accommodate MICR fonts. You may need to buy a laser-type printer to reproduce these fonts. Additionally, some ink jet printers do not accept magnet ink.
Never include your Social Security number on checks.
