What is MICR toner used for?
Paycheck and personal checks in the United States and Canada use MICR toner to allow for machines to read the ink directly off the page. But what is MICR toner? MICR is an acronym that stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. It is the process used to create machine readable information on documents.
Can any laser printer use MICR toner?
The MICR line on checks must be printed using magnetic toner. This special toner is only available for laser printers (and some special dot matrix printers.) Inkjet printers can not print MICR! In general, your printer manufacturer will not sell this special toner.
Is MICR toner necessary?
The short answer is, Yes! If you’re printing checks on blank check stock, you certainly need a MICR printer and the security features that are exclusive to high-quality, OEM MICR toner. Checks won’t meet banking standards and could be rejected by a bank.
Who uses MICR toner?
MICR toner cartridges are specialty toners used by the banking industry for check processing. MICR is an acronym that stands for magnetic ink character recognition. Each MICR cartridge is filled with a special toner powder designed specifically for check printing.
Do checks have to have magnetic ink?
Only the MICR line of a check must be printed in magnetic ink. The rest of the information on the check, such as the date, the payee name, and the amount, can be printed in regular, non-magnetic ink.
What type of printer is used to print checks?
A MICR laser printer is used to print secure checks and financial documents. It uses laser technology to melt MICR toner onto the check paper to create secure MICR characters and other line items. MICR toner is a specialized magnetic toner used to eradicate check fraud and check rejections.
How do you know if your toner is MICR?
Look at the MICR clear band (the bottom 5/8 inch) of the check. Make certain it doesn’t contain anything printed in MICR toner other than the E-13B MICR characters. Sometimes a portion of a laser printed signature or a graphics line or text from a lower stub will be inadvertently printed within the clear band.