Years before most banks, we took the plunge and converted to check imaging - a system that was, at the time, rather new in the banking arena, but offered tremendous potential for the future. It has certainly turned out to be an intelligent decision, as our customers have truly benefited from the advantages that imaging has to offer.

Check imaging offers the benefits of faster and more effective research, easier storage and retrieval of archived checks, lower operating costs and lower customer fees.

Check 21 | Find out more
The Check 21 Act is landmark legislation that took effect on October 28, 2004. It will permit any person or entity who processes a check to create what the Act dubs a “substitute check”—a paper reproduction (front and back) of the original check. These substitute checks will contain all the information contained on the original check and will bear the legend: “This is a legal copy of your check. You can use it the same way you would use the original check.”

The first step in creating a substitute check is to create an electronic image of the original check. Once an electronic image is created, the original check is “truncated,” or taken out of circulation. The person or entity that creates the electronic image is then responsible for truncating the original check. Depending on that person's or entity's policies, they may either destroy the original check or store it for a period of time.  Institutions can then process the electronic image or use it to create the paper reproduction (or substitute check) at any point in the process.  Find out more about Check 21