What is 'Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Line - MICR'

The information that appears at the bottom of a check that includes the bank's routing number, the customer's account number, and the check number. The magnetic ink character recognition line is printed using technology that allows computers to read the printed information. Using MICR, computers can quickly read routing numbers, account numbers and other information from printed documents including checks. MICR numbers, letters and symbols are printed with magnetic ink or toner, usually in one of two major MICR fonts. The magnetic ink allows the computer to read the characters even if they have been covered with signatures, cancellation marks or other marks.

Explaining 'Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Line - MICR'

MICR (often pronounced micker) is used mainly by the banking industry. A benefit of MICR over other computer-readable information such as bar codes is that humans are able to read MICR. The two MICR fonts that are used worldwide are E-13B and CMC-7. These unique fonts are used to help computers recognize the characters and limit check fraud.

Further Reading

Method and system for funding a financial account
patents.google.com [PDF]
… character systems, some using conventional printer's ink and others using magnetic inks … Committee released publication 142, Location and Arrangement of Magnetic Ink Characters for the … The MICR reader 12 is capable of reading magnetic ink character recognition data, in …

The Need for Speed: Who Should Bear the Financial Responsibility for Magnetic Ink Encoding Errors and the Future of Check Processing Technology
heinonline.org [PDF]
… character systems, some using conventional printer's ink and others using magnetic inks … Committee released publication 142, Location and Arrangement of Magnetic Ink Characters for the … The MICR reader 12 is capable of reading magnetic ink character recognition data, in …

Pure data: moments in a history of machine-readable type
journals.sagepub.com [PDF]
… character systems, some using conventional printer's ink and others using magnetic inks … Committee released publication 142, Location and Arrangement of Magnetic Ink Characters for the … The MICR reader 12 is capable of reading magnetic ink character recognition data, in …

Neural networks at work
ieeexplore.ieee.org [PDF]
… character systems, some using conventional printer's ink and others using magnetic inks … Committee released publication 142, Location and Arrangement of Magnetic Ink Characters for the … The MICR reader 12 is capable of reading magnetic ink character recognition data, in …

Essence of Cheque Truncation System toward Efficient Financial Service Delivery in Nigeria
platform.almanhal.com [PDF]
… character systems, some using conventional printer's ink and others using magnetic inks … Committee released publication 142, Location and Arrangement of Magnetic Ink Characters for the … The MICR reader 12 is capable of reading magnetic ink character recognition data, in …

The IBM 1275 recognition system and its development
link.springer.com [PDF]
… character systems, some using conventional printer's ink and others using magnetic inks … Committee released publication 142, Location and Arrangement of Magnetic Ink Characters for the … The MICR reader 12 is capable of reading magnetic ink character recognition data, in …

Method and apparatus for character recognition systems
patents.google.com [PDF]
… character systems, some using conventional printer's ink and others using magnetic inks … Committee released publication 142, Location and Arrangement of Magnetic Ink Characters for the … The MICR reader 12 is capable of reading magnetic ink character recognition data, in …

Modular system for printing and processing financial documents
patents.google.com [PDF]
… character systems, some using conventional printer's ink and others using magnetic inks … Committee released publication 142, Location and Arrangement of Magnetic Ink Characters for the … The MICR reader 12 is capable of reading magnetic ink character recognition data, in …