Automated Business Machines Corporation has the experience to get you back on-line when problems occur. Originally, checkwriting and check signing were tasks to be completed after the computers had generated the check. As had been the practice of every organization for 75 years, the check writing task was primarily accomplished with mechanical machines that printed the amount of the check and a facsimile signature. This process was extremely labor intensive and very time consuming.

Approximately twenty years ago, the practice of embossing the dollar amount in digital form directly onto the checks was abandoned to make room for the high speed check signing machines, which, although still mechanical, provided faster ways to complete the check signing function.

However, this process still involved an additional step after the printer had printed the check. Eight years ago, technology further developed to include control units to the printer, and thus on-line intelligent checkwriting became available.

Digital amount and signature production permitted the entire check to be printed at one time, eliminating the additional steps of having to complete the process on a mechanical machine. As a result, control of the process increased dramatically as the on-line systems were able to "read" the amount information and validate the check per limits set by the individual organization.

Checks not within the limits simply would not be printed. The most recent development in the industry is a software-based system which not only provides check amount printing and check signing capability, but goes the last step, by creating the entire check document, including the bank encoding scheme known as MICR encoding. These are the account numbers and bank routing numbers found on the bottom of every check.

By using magnetic ink, checks are able to be read in the automated clearing machines used by all financial institutions. By using laser printer technology combined with check writing software systems, companies can save time and money by not having to buy,store, and protect pre-printed check stock. They simply stock blank check stock paper, and generate checks with the designated account numbers, bank numbers, payee information, and all other printed information normally found on a check. The time that is saved more than pays for the system cost, and the increased control and safety is added benefit to the organization. Automated Business Machines Corporation, whose roots date back to 1927, has been involved in each generation of the check writing industry -- from the original manual crank mechanical check protectors, to the electric versions of those same machines, and the high speed mechanical check signers used twenty years ago.