MICR: What Is a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Line?

A magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line is a series of characters printed on the bottom of checks, deposit slips, and other financial documents. The MICR line contains information such as the bank routing number, check number, and account number. This information is used by banks to process checks and other financial transactions.

The MICR line is printed using a special type of ink that is magnetic. This allows the characters to be read by a MICR reader, which is a machine that can read the magnetic ink. The MICR reader decodes the information in the MICR line and sends it to the bank's computer system.

The MICR line is an important part of the check clearing process. It allows banks to quickly and accurately process checks and other financial transactions. Without the MICR line, the check clearing process would be much slower and more error-prone.

Here are some additional details about the MICR line:

• The MICR line is typically located on the bottom of the check, just above the signature line.
• The MICR line contains the following information:
• Bank routing number: This is a nine-digit number that identifies the bank where the check is drawn.
• Check number: This is a unique number that identifies the check.
• Account number: This is the account number of the person or company who wrote the check.
• The MICR line is printed using a special type of ink that is magnetic. This allows the characters to be read by a MICR reader.
• The MICR reader decodes the information in the MICR line and sends it to the bank's computer system.
• The MICR line is an important part of the check clearing process. It allows banks to quickly and accurately process checks and other financial transactions.

If you have any questions about the MICR line, please do not hesitate to contact your bank.