Inkjet Printer Now Capable Of MICR

The first inkjet printer capable of printing magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) lines will premier in November.

While many banks already are taking advantage of laser printers that can print checks on demand, including an acceptable MICR line, the technology and chemistry didn't allow acceptable inkjet printing. Source Technologies, which has an extensive MICR research facility, announced that it had developed the needed processing methods.

Inkjet printing can be faster and less expensive than laser printing. As far as Security Officers are concerned, the appearance of the inkjet printer is a mixed blessing. A corporation that prints its own complete checks certainly will be protected from the "back-page-check-thefts" from pre-printed stock that can be so costly. But the ability for a check passer to print MICR checks quickly and completely through the use of a scanner and an inkjet printer is not a comforting thought.

Source Technologies said it will debut a line of inkjet printers at the Bank Administration Institute's Retail Delivery Show in November.

Copyright © 1998 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 8, No. 8, 7/98