User guide

Check Scanning
3
Check 21
The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (or Check 21 Act) is a United States
federal law enacted into law October 28, 2003. Check 21 allows a company to
replace an original check with a paper reproduction (front and back). This
reproduction, called a substitute check, is created from a digital image of the
original, contains the same information, and becomes the legal equivalent of the
original check.
Check 21 allows a company to use digital image files of the original paper checks
to settle check payments electronically, thereby reducing reliance on physical
transportation. The digital images can be converted to substitute checks, if a
substitute check is needed for any reason. With this legislation, any type of paper
check can be converted into a digital image, including corporate checks,
consumer checks, cashiers checks, third-party checks and money orders. Once
converted to a digital image, checks are then processed as an ACH or Check 21
transaction.
OCR
Optical character recognition (OCR) is a type of computer software designed to
translate images of handwritten or type written text (usually captured by a
scanner) into a machine-editable text. The scanning feature leverages OCR to
read the MICR (Bank account and routing number) and CAR/LAR (handwritten
amount).
Before you Begin
In order to use the scanning functionality, Property Management Payment Service
requires scanner drivers to be loaded onto a user’s workstation. If the workstation
does not meet the minimum system requirements, it may impact the overall
performance of the service. To be certain you will be able to use the service when
you are ready to implement, please take a minute to read the hardware and
software requirements below and confirm your workstations will be compatible.
Please contact the Property Management Payment Service support if you have
any questions about the listed requirements.