PROCESS CHECKS
JUST LIKE A
CREDIT CARD!
Changing Paper Checks to an
Electronic Item Benefits You and Your Customers
Now you can take advantage of electronic
commerce to increase employee productivity and to improve customer service.
Electronic Check Conversion? (ECC) converts a traditional paper check
into an electronic item at point-of-sale and processes it through the Federal
Reserve's Automated Clearing House (ACH).
Electronic Check Conversion?
saves time and money while reducing the risks of NSF checks. A check
is now as hassle-free as a credit card transaction. It's more efficient
and secure. And it lets you focus more on your business and taking
care of your customers.
Ending the Paper Trail with
ECC?
During the 80s, technology revolutionized
the payments world. No one uses a manual imprinter to accept credit
cards any longer. Instead, merchants handle credit card transactions
through EFT (Electronic Funds Transfers) using VeriFone or similar terminals.
Paper checks have remained non-automated...until now!
Here's
how ECC? works: When a customer makes payment with a check, it is stamped as an
electronic item. The paper check is then run through a check reader
where MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) information is captured.
The amount is entered on a terminal keypad. The check is approved,
a receipt is printed for the check writer to sign authorizing the electronic
conversion.
The transaction is electronically
transferred through the ACH system where funds are debited directly from
the customer's account and deposited automatically into the merchant's account
usually within 48 hours.
Electronic Check Conversion?
FAQs
Q: How is Electronic Check Conversion? different from a debit
transaction?
A: Debit transactions are processed through ATM networks, where a
card number is required to link to the correct bank for payment. Check
conversion employs existing infrastructure using MICR data from the check
and running it through the ACH network.
Q: Does this mean checks will go away?
A: Absolutely not. Consumers write more than 60 billion checks
in the U.S. annually. Experts believe that total will grow to 70 billion
by the year 2000. Checks are here to stay.
Q: How have consumers responded to check conversion?
A: With thousands participating in multiple programs, the National
Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) has indicated that consumers
have been "neutral to very positive" toward check conversion.
Broad acceptance of this system is viewed by industry leaders as
natural progression. |
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Q: Are funds debited instantly from your customer's checking account?
A: No. Unlike debit cards, funds are moved within 48 hours of
the purchase.
Q: Will the customer's checking account be secure?
A: Yes. By law, financial institutions regard customer information
as highly confidential. A traditional paper check is handled by many
people in the payment process before it ever gets to the bank. Check
conversion means only the customer and merchant ever view account information.
Q: What if a customer has a problem with his or her statement?
A: By regulation,
a customer has up to 60 days from the statement date to notify the financial
institution of any discrepancy.
Electronic Check Conversion?
Works Harder!
Faster check processing.
Funds can be centralized, while converted
at each retail location.
Checks are electronically deposited
in your account. No more trips to the bank. No more deposit
slips to complete.
NSF and other returned items are discovered
faster, expediting the collection process.
Quick detection of check fraud stops
bad check writers.
Eliminates lost or stolen checks before
deposit.
Check verification at no additional
cost.
Reports can be customized to meet
the needs of the end user.
Reporting and tracking from database
accessible to the merchant 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Electronic Check Conversion?
with Check Collect?
When your customer pays by check which
is converted to an electronic item at the point-of-sale, occasionally those
items may "bounce" even though they are verified for approval.
With Electronic Check Conversion?, you have an added advantage:
our automated electronic recovery system called Check Collect?.
Eliminates NSF bank fees.
Collected and released checks are
paid weekly
Helps retain your customers with "behind
the scenes" recovery rather than annoying calls and letters.
Your customer avoids the embarrassment
of dealing with a "bounced" check!

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