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How do I set up my printer to print checks?

How do I set up my printer to print checks?

Owned by John Hewitt
Last updated: yesterday at 11:50 am

If you have a page-oriented printer, insert checks in the paper tray or envelope feeder the same way you insert letterhead paper.

If you have a continuous-feed printer, insert the checks as you would continuous-feed printer paper. Position the checks horizontally in the same orientation you normally use for 8.5-by-11-inch paper. You probably won’t need to adjust the paper clamps. Position the checks vertically based on your printer type.

Set up an inkjet or laser printer

  1. Select File > Printer Setup > For Printing Checks.
  2. From the Printer list, select your printer.
  3. Select Page-oriented.
  4. Select the check style you're using.
  5. Select a full-page source, and if necessary, select a partial-page printing style and a partial-page source.
  6. Select OK.
  7. Make sure the printer is turned on, online, and loaded with blank paper or a sample check.
  8. If asked to set alignment, follow the on-screen instructions.

Set up an impact or dot-matrix printer

  1. Select File > Printer Setup > For Printing Checks.
  2. From the Printer list, select your printer.
  3. Select Continuous.
  4. Select the check style you're using.
  5. If your printer skips checks or prints nothing, select Bypass the driver.
  6. If the date or your logo is cut off, clear the Use low starting position check box.
  7. Select OK.
  8. Make sure the printer is turned on, online, and loaded with blank paper or a sample check.
  9. If asked to set alignment, follow the on-screen instructions.

About Check 21

Check 21 is a federal law enacted in 2004 to help banks process checks electronically. Because check scanners may reject checks that use an incompatible font style or size in the numeric dollar amount field, Quicken requires that this field use Arial (font), Regular (font style), 10 pt (font size). You can change the font style and size for all other typed fields.

What is Check 21?

The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (Check 21) was enacted in 2004 to modernize the U.S. payment system by improving check processing. Check 21 speeds up check clearing and reduces the costs and risks of physically transporting checks. The law allows financial institutions to create and present a substitute check for payment instead of the original check. A substitute check is an electronic copy of the front and back of the original check, can be printed at any time, and is legally equivalent to the original check.

What changed with Check 21?

  • The time between writing a check and when it's cashed is shorter.
  • Many financial institutions no longer return original checks. However, they provide substitute checks in printed format.
  • Your financial institution may charge fees for checks that aren't Check 21 compatible.
  • The numeric dollar amount field is preset to Arial 10-point font and can’t be changed. (You can use other fonts for other text on printed checks.)
  • Check text must be printed in black; color fonts aren’t supported.
  • Additional requirements apply to Check 21 wallet checks.

Quicken check compatibility

Quicken checks are designed to be compatible with financial institutions in the U.S. Quicken ensures compliance with Check 21 regulations and updates checking products as needed.

Note: Quicken does not guarantee that Traditional wallet checks purchased after August 1, 2005, are Check 21 compatible.

Identify Traditional or Check 21-compatible wallet checks

Selecting the correct wallet check type before printing helps avoid alignment and reprint issues.

  1. Find the gray text between the stub and the check.
  2. The text is printed vertically and includes a year, QUICKEN INC., a three-digit number, and a phone number. (For example, 2006 QUICKEN INC. #XXX 1–800–433–8810.)
  3. Identify the three-digit number that follows the number sign (#). This number determines your wallet check type:
    • Check 21 image-compatible wallet checks use one of the following numbers: #808, #828, #848, #868, #888.
    • Traditional wallet checks use any other number.

If your checks weren’t purchased from Quicken, contact your check provider to confirm whether they are Check 21 image-compatible or Quicken-compatible Traditional wallet checks.