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Home > Help Desk > Anatomy of a Check
Custom Direct's Anatomy of a Check
Use your mouse to roll over any section of the check below for an explanation of its features. See the descriptions below the check image for more detailed information on the areas of a check.
Anatomy of a Personal Check
- Monogram or Symbol
- An optional monogram or decorative symbol is available on some check designs.
- Personalization
- The area for printing up to 5 lines of your personal information, including name(s), address, and optional information such as your phone number.
- Fraction
- Fractional number which identifies your bank.
- Check Number
- This sequential number, printed in two locations, allows you to keep track of
the checks you write.
- Dollar Box
- Area to write the numeric amount of the check.
- Padlock Icon
- This icon references security features that have been incorporated to help your financial institution detect attempts at fraud. The features are detailed on the back of each check.
- Bank Information
- Your bank's information must be printed on your checks, which may include the bank's name, address, city, state, and zip. Verify this information with your bank.
- Over Signature Area
- This area is designated for an optional personal message. Some check designs incorporate their own message in this area.
- Signature Line
- This is the area where an account owner signs the check to authorize its use.
- Routing Number
- This 9-digit number identifies your bank. The number starts with 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Account Number
- This checking account number, assigned by your bank, is 4 digits or more.
Anatomy of a Business Check
- Personalization
- The area for printing up to five lines of your business information, including name(s), address, and optional information such as phone number, email or company slogan.
- “Pay to the Order of” Area
- This line indicates to whom the check is made payable.
- Fraction
- Fractional number which identifies your bank.
- Check Number
- This sequential number, printed in two locations,
allows you to keep track of the checks you write.
- Dollar Box
- Area to write the numeric amount of the check.
- Dollar Line
- This line indicates, in written words, the amount of the check.
- Padlock Icon
- This icon references security features that have been incorporated to help your financial institution detect attempts at fraud. The features are detailed on the back of each check.
- Bank Information
- Your bank's information must be printed on your checks, which may include the bank's name, address, city, state, and zip. Verify this information with your bank.
- Over Signature Area
- This area is designated for an optional message. You can incorporate your company slogan here, or other text like: Void After 90 Days
- Signature Line
- This is the area where an account owner signs the check to authorize its use. On certain formats you are allowed up to 3 different signature lines.
- Routing Number
- This 9-digit number identifies your bank.
The number starts with 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Account Number
- This checking account number, assigned by
your bank, is 4 digits or more.
- MICR Line
- Encoded area including check number, bank routing number and account number. Printed using special inks readable by bank encoding machines.
Personalization
There are 5 lines available in the personalization area on your personal checks. This information typically includes the name(s) on the account, address and optional information such as your phone number or driver's license number.
On business checks, you can imprint up to 6 lines of information, including Name(s) and/or Company Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, and other optional information such as phone numbers, e-mail addresses or company slogans.
Bank Information
This area below the written amount of the check includes information about the bank on which the check is drawn, and may include the bank's name, address and phone number. Only the bank name is required, but you may also need to include your bank's address. Refer to your existing checks or check with your bank to determine what information should be included.
MICR Line
This is the encoded area at the bottom of your check which includes the check number, bank routing number, and account number. It is printed using special inks which can be read by encoding machines used by banks.
Check Number
This sequential number is printed in the upper right of your check and is encoded in your check's MICR line. It is used by the account owner to keep track of the checks that are written and is used by the bank to report checks as they clear the account.
Routing Number
The routing number is part of the MICR line on your check. It is a 9-digit number that identifies your bank, and always starts with 0, 1, 2 or 3.
Account Number
Also part of your check's MICR line, the account number identifies the account from which money is drawn.
Pay To Line
This line indicates to whom the check is made payable.
Fraction
The fractional number on your check is used to identify your bank.
Monogram/Symbol
If the design of your check allows, you may select an optional monogram or symbol to appear to the left of your personalization.
Over Signature
This area is available for the account owner to incorporate a business or personal message to anyone using the check. Popular business uses include printing a company slogan or the text "VOID AFTER 90 DAYS".
Signature Line
The account owner must endorse this line to authorize the use of the check. The signature line is actually made up of "micro security print," or very fine text that breaks up if someone attempts to photocopy the check.
Padlock Icon
The lock icon beside the word "Dollars" indicates to your financial institution that the check contains security features that will help them detect a COPY from the ORIGINAL document.
Dollar Box
This box to the right of the Pay To line is used to write the numeric amount of the check. The numeric amount must correspond to the written amount of the check (written on the line below the Pay To line). If the two differ, the written amount of the check will override the numeric amount.
Written Dollar Amount
The dollar amount of the check must be written out on the line below the Pay To line on the check. If the written and numeric amounts on the check differ, this written amount will override the numeric amount of the check.
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