Can You Print Checks Without Ordering Them From Your Bank?

Disclosure: This article was published as part of a paid partnership with OnlineCheckWriter.com, a Zil Money platform. The author is an independent contributor.

Yes, a business can print checks without ordering them from a bank, but the printing setup and account information still need to meet the requirements that apply to the check.

Instead of ordering a box of checks containing pre-printed bank and account information, a business can use check-printing software and suitable check stock to create checks when they are needed.

This can be particularly useful for companies managing several checking accounts or businesses that occasionally run out of checks before a replacement order arrives.

Banks Are Not the Only Source of Checks

Banks and credit unions commonly offer check ordering, but they are not the only option.

Chase currently explains that customers can order checks through their bank or use third-party check printers and online retailers. It also notes that replacement checkbooks normally take time to arrive and that some banks may be able to provide temporary checks when checks are needed quickly.

Another approach is printing checks on demand.

OnlineCheckWriter.com allows users to create the check using an authorized account and print it themselves rather than waiting for a box of pre-printed checks.

Blank Check Stock Is Different From a Pre-Printed Check

Pre-printed checks already contain information such as the bank routing number, account number, and often the account holder’s information.

Blank check stock does not contain all of that account-specific information in advance.

The user adds the relevant information when the check is created.

This can give businesses more flexibility because one supply of blank stock can potentially be used for different authorized accounts, provided the correct account, MICR information, and check numbering are used for each payment.

That flexibility also makes verification important.

Selecting the wrong account before printing can create a serious payment problem.

Understand the MICR Requirement

The Federal Reserve says that the MICR line on an original check has historically been subject to industry standards requiring magnetic ink.

If the MICR line is already printed on the check stock, the remaining check information can be printed using regular ink.

If the payer needs to print the MICR line itself, Federal Reserve guidance says the MICR line should be printed using magnetic ink.

Businesses should therefore understand whether their stock has a pre-printed MICR line before choosing printer supplies.

Do not assume that every printer, ink, and paper combination will satisfy every bank’s check-processing requirements.

Check With Your Financial Institution When Needed

A common compliance mistake is saying that every bank must accept every properly printed home or office check.

There is no responsible reason to make that promise.

OnlineCheckWriter.com’s current blank-check page itself advises users to use a printer and stock that meet their bank’s check-printing requirements and to check with the bank when unsure.

That is the safer approach.

If the payment is important or the business is setting up a new check-printing process, confirm requirements with the financial institution connected to the account.

What About Check 21?

Check 21 is often cited incorrectly in home check-printing articles.

The law was created to allow more efficient electronic processing of checks and created the legal framework for substitute checks.

The Federal Reserve does not say that Check 21 created a universal right to print checks on any paper with any printer. In fact, its guidance says the magnetic-ink requirement for original MICR lines predates Check 21.

That distinction matters.

When Is Printing Your Own Checks Practical?

Printing checks without ordering them from the bank may be useful when a business uses checks infrequently, manages multiple bank accounts, needs a check before a reorder arrives, or wants to print only when a payment is actually due.

OnlineCheckWriter.com supports this on-demand workflow from existing authorized accounts.

The correct takeaway is not “bank checks are unnecessary.”

It is that businesses have another option.

They can order checks from a bank or third-party printer, request temporary checks when available, or use an on-demand printing process that follows the account’s and financial institution’s requirements.

OnlineCheckWriter.com – powered by Zil Money, is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking and money movement services are provided through partner financial institutions and licensed service providers. FDIC insurance coverage applies only to eligible deposit products and accounts, and is subject to applicable terms, conditions, limitations, and requirements. Additional information regarding partner institutions, products, and services is available in the applicable terms and agreements.