Magnetic toner and printers

The MICR band along the bottom of a check is read magnetically by bank equipment. Magnetic toner or magnetic ink is what makes those characters readable.

• Standard toner prints characters that look correct but may not be read magnetically.
• A check that cannot be read magnetically may be rejected or processed by hand, sometimes with a fee.
• Some banks no longer require magnetic ink. If yours says it is optional, also confirm that other banks receiving your checks will not reject them. When in doubt, stay with MICR.
• MICR cartridges are model specific. Match the exact printer model. MICR ink is available for some inkjet printers, so ask your manufacturer.
• The Resource Finder in your workspace lists cartridges by printer.